Sweeper commands winner defense.

Byline: Kathy Orton Special to the Daily News

The soccer field is no battlefield, filled with trenches, bunkers and mines. And certainly the game itself is not life or death.

Yet when Brandy Dejong takes the field for the Paraclete High School girls soccer team, the senior sweeper marshals her troops into the appropriate formation and barks out orders like George S. Patton himself.

"She's a four-star general," Spirits coach Deana Jacoby said. "She commands the defense."

In soccer, defensive players are recognized for their accomplishments about as often as peace reigns around the world.

High-scoring forwards and stingy goalkeepers frequently find their names in the newspaper, while talented sweepers, who are crucial in helping the goalkeeper earn that shutout and in setting up the offense to score the goal, are overlooked.

"The media and the fans notice offensive players," Jacoby said. "The coach is very aware of defensive players and their importance on the team. It's really important for me to constantly commend those girls on how integral they are to the team. There is a saying: Offense wins games. Defense wins championships."

At 10-1-5 and ranked No. 8 by the Daily News, the Spirits have used their offense to win quite a few games, but it is their defense that has made them into postseason contenders. Leading that defense is Dejong.

"There's a lot of responsibility as far as defense," Dejong said. "You have to keep the ball from getting to the goalie. (The sweeper) has to keep everybody fired up and not let anybody get down. Our team is really good about keeping it up and staying together as a team. If we don't work together, it doesn't work at all."

Next to the goalkeeper, the sweeper has the best view of the field and the opponent's attack. It is up to the sweeper to direct the defense so that the offense can regain control of the ball.

"She has a very clear idea of what her role is," Jacoby said. "She worries about offending somebody (with all her instructions), but I think the girls are happy to hear someone who has a vision. They like having someone back there telling them what to do."

Dejong has been a sweeper all four years on the varsity team at Paraclete. She began playing soccer on an AYSO team and played for the Antelope Valley Ambush, a club soccer team. Although she has tried other positions on the field at different times, she prefers her spot as sweeper.

"I'm much more comfortable back on defense," Dejong said.

According to Jacoby, Dejong's ability, leadership and competitiveness make her ideally suited to play in front of Paraclete's goal.

"She's a highly skilled player, especially marked by her timing for defensive plays," Jacoby said. "Her ability to volley kick the ball, to play the ball in the air, she's mastered that. She chests the ball well and heads the ball well."

Staying mainly on one side of the field, Dejong hasn't had many opportunities to score goals. Yet every year she has managed to kick the ball into the net at least once. On Tuesday against Silver Valley, Dejong scored on a penalty kick for her first goal of this season.

Today, when Paraclete hosts Bishop at Lancaster City Park beginning at 3 p.m., Dejong won't be looking to score goals, only to stop them. Undoubtedly, the general will have her troops ready.

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Photo Brandy Dejong, Paraclete High's soccer star, plays a commanding role with her assertive defense. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News