STRIVING FOR A NEW GOAL\Soccer players raising funds to play in Europe.

Byline: Chris Reed Special to the Daily News

When the Antelope Valley Ambush competes against the best Southern California has to offer, the 14-and-under youth soccer team usually comes out victorious.

The team's success has brought on a new challenge - off the field.

The Ambush, winners of two area Gold Cup championships, is trying to fund a trip to Europe this summer to compete in the three largest youth competitions in the world. What the players are finding is that fund raising can be tougher than scoring goals.

"It's hard because you're usually asking the same people twice," said Ambush midfielder Leonard Griffin. "We've got to be confident that we're going to Europe."

The team hopes to spend July in Europe, playing in Sweden from the 14th through 20th and in Denmark from July 22-27.

The team already has made the nonrefundable deposits to play in the tournaments but still lacks $36,800 to pay expenses for the 16 players. According to team manager Brian Griffiths, whose son, Brad, plays on the team, more fund-raising efforts are needed.

"We're not halfway there," Brian Griffiths said.

The players and their parents have conducted several fund-raisers, including selling mistletoe during the holidays, collecting aluminum cans and selling Tupperware.

The latest effort is a raffle - with a $10,000 Chevrolet truck as the grand prize.

The truck was obtained for $3,000 by a parent with a circuitous connection. The winner of the raffle will receive the keys March 17.

Trying to raise money might seem tough for youths who would rather be playing soccer, but the players said they are trying to put the same kind of on-field determination into their fund raising.

Brad Griffiths has sold 550 tickets for the raffle but regrets that he will not have a chance at the car. Players aren't allowed to participate.

"I wanted to buy a couple of tickets myself," he said.

Griffiths, 14, added that if the team doesn't raise enough money for this summer, it will save the money and try to raise enough to go next year. It goes without saying that the players don't want to wait that long.

"I still think we can do it (this year), but we all have to work for it," Griffiths said.

Over the weekend, the Ambush played a scrimmage against the Los Angeles Force at Monroe High School in North Hills and won easily, 4-0. It was a far cry from the team's early days in 1986.

It used to be that any Ambush team coming into the San Fernando Valley would be overwhelmed. Now, it's the team from Antelope Valley that overpowers its opponents.

Having learned just about all they need to learn from their Southern California opponents, the Ambush players want to try competing with the European teams, and to learn from them as well.

Ambush head coach Carlos Cerda grew up playing soccer in his native Chile. He was good enough to play as a professional goaltender with Lautaro and Union Espanola.

Cerda said that players, particularly those who play other sports, won't learn to love soccer if it is forced on them.

"I never force them to quit (the other sports)," Cerda said. "It's their choice as long as they give me 100 percent when they're playing soccer."

Soon after moving from goaltending coach to head coach of the Ambush, Cerda suggested the idea of competing in the European tournaments. He wasn't surprised by the reaction he got from the 14-and-under players.

"Their eyes got pretty big, but I let them know that there's a lot of work," said Cerda, who added that his players immediately grew determined to raise enough money for the trip.

It's one thing for the players to want to go to Europe to see the sights, but the coach is hoping more more. In trying to raise money for the trip, Cerda is emphasizing the journey as a learning experience.

"They'll know the difference between playing soccer and competing," he said, adding that the youngsters being away from their families will add to the learning experience. "You'll give the kids the tools. It will make them better people."

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Photo (1) The Antelope Valley Ambush, with team manager Bryan Griffins, left, and coach Carlos Cerda, right, has won two Gold Cup championships. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News (2) Ambush soccer team member Jeffery Kim, right, goes airborne as he tries to take control of the ball. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News