Talent pool continues to swell for local girls soccer programs
The state of girls soccer locally is strong.
And getting stronger.
Six local teams were ranked in this week’s CIF-Southern Section polls, including the No. 1-ranked teams in Division 2 (Westlake) and Division 7 (Thacher).
Westlake, Oaks Christian and Oxnard are three of the top four teams in Division 2.
Seniors Tatum Wynalda of Westlake and Malia Tarazon of Oxnard give Ventura County two of the top attacking players in Southern California.
But a new generation of talent is making a loud impact as freshmen this season.
Unbeaten Marmonte League leader Westlake has been steadied by the starting centerback pairing of freshmen Brooke Pollard and Tahirih Vahdat, as well as central midfielder Calista Banihashemi.
“Seven freshmen have come in and made a difference in the program,” Westlake head coach Frank Marino said.
More Ventura County soccer:
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Oaks Christian has seen its Marmonte League title challenge powered by the ninth-grade attacking triumvirate of winger Avery Oder, who briefly left the team this month to join the U.S. Under-15 national team, striker Scarlette Druian and attacker Charlotte Ward.
“It’s fun,” said Oaks Christian head coach Sebastian Alvarado.
Playmaker Zaina Barakat has four goals four goals and seven assists for Moorpark, which is on the cusp of clinching the Coastal Canyon League title.
Freshman midfielder Catherine Feira has 11 goals and five assists for unbeaten Thacher, which is running away with the Frontier League race.
Freshmen goalie Peyton Mendez and fullback Taylor King have solidified a Ventura defense that has conceded just 20 goals in 18 matches.
Freshman striker Lilly Kingston has seven goals for Calabasas.
Marmonte League
Westlake (12-0, 7-0) and Oaks Christian (12-1-3, 5-1-1) were unbeaten when they met Jan. 18, when Wynalda had a goal and an assist to power a 2-1 Warriors win.
The Pepperdine-bound senior has 24 goals and six assists through 12 matches, giving the Warriors an experienced leader in attack.
“Tatum has been on a tear,” Alvarado said.
Wynalda is supported up top by freshmen attackers Layla Simon and Finley Aghassi.
“We’re definitely deeper than we were last year,” Marino said. “We’ve definitely improved from where we were last year.”
Oak Christian has its own senior attacker committed to Pepperdine in winger Erin Zeile (seven goals, five assists).
But the Lions are exceptionally young. Season-ending injuries to three returning starters paved the way for a rotation dominated by freshmen and sophomores.
Sophomore Sarah Spears, who started last season as a freshman, leads the team with 11 goals and 11 assists. Oder, the freshman phenom, has 10 goals and nine assists. Sophomore Abby Seawright is joined in defense by three freshmen.
Attackers Bella Holland and Chloe Cole power Thousand Oaks (10-6, 3-4), which is ranked No. 10 in Division 3.
Goalkeeper Carly Hauser and defender Ava Vincent have kept Agoura (3-5-3, 2-4-1) competitive, despite a rough stretch with COVID-19 and injuries.
“We started our first four games with half of the team,” said Agoura head coach Josh Bloomfeld.
Coastal Canyon League
Youth has also moved Moorpark (10-3-2, 6-0) on the cusp of a league title.
The sophomore strike force of Savannah Hutchins (17 goals, nine assists) and Gianna Foss (10 goals, five assists) ahead of freshman playmaker Barakat has been “dynamite,” according to Moorpark head coach Mike Alexander.
“The younger players have stepped up,” said Alexander. “They’re a huge part in what we’re doing this year. It’s very exciting to watch.”
Senior captain Jennifer Bill has returned after missing last season to steady the back line alongside sophomore Kaitlyn Beavers.
“She’s been a huge part of our defense,” Alexander said of Bill.
The Musketeers are only unranked because they sit in Division 1 this season.
“We have a team that can make a decent run at it,” Alexander said. “Our experience helps.”
Moorpark can clinch the title with a result Friday night at Royal (3-6-2, 2-2-1).
Sophomore Malea Johnson has scored nine goals for Oak Park (6-3-3, 3-1-1).
Junior Anneliese Wong has played well for Camarillo (4-7, 2-4), which lost nearly a month of its season to COVID-10 protocols.
“Our season has been tough with COVID,” Camarillo head coach Bryan Monka said.
Pacific View League
Powered by 11 seniors with 2020 CIF State regional rings, Oxnard (14-2-3, 8-0-1) continues to be the top team in West County.
The Yellowjackets clinched their ninth PVL title in 10 years on Thursday.
Tarazon, the senior playmaker, leads the team with 12 goals and 10 assists.
“Malia has had a very consistent year for us,” Oxnard head coach Andrew Aguailar said. “Her production has been really high. She should probably have more assists, to be honest, if we would take care of our chances.”
Forward Justice Valdez, Tarazon, midfielder Emely Yepez, defensive midfielder Andrea Ibarra, defender Kaelyn Federis and goalkeeper Jaemi Toledo gives Oxnard a spine of four-year seniors that runs down the middle of the field.
“It’s senior-heavy for sure,” Aguailar said. “They’ve all had really good years.”
Friday’s 3-0 win over Pacifica extended the program’s unbeaten streak against opposition to 60 matches, dating back to 2015.
“That record has meant a lot to us,” Aguailar said. “We’ve kept that going for a long time.”
Ventura (11-6-1, 5-4), Pacifica (6-8-3, 3-3-2), Buena (7-10-3, 3-5-1) and Rio Mesa (4-11-2, 2-4-1) are battling for the league’s other two playoff spots.
Jazlynn Hughes Moreno (nine goals, four assists) and Esja Moore (eight goals, 13 assists) have powered the Ventura attack.
“The whole team has been amazing since Christmas,” head coach Todd Tackett said. “Like everybody, we got crushed by COVID, which put us back.”
Pacifica is powered by an exciting sophomore class that features Olympic Development Program selections like Michelle Monroy, Natalie Garcia, Klarissa Melgoza and Leslie Torres.
Injuries and eligibility issues have plagued the Tritons. Torres is still sitting out after transferring in from Santa Clara in the summer.
Buena has been without star forwards Caylie Button and Abby Wood for much of the season, leaving sophomore Amalia Nolan to do a lot of the work up front.
“It’s been a little bit of a disaster over here with girls being out,” Buena head coach A.J. Tewes said. “It’s been rough. … We haven’t really had a full team for much time this season.”
Citrus Coast League
First-place Fillmore (5-3-4, 5-0-1) and second-place Santa Paula (10-4-2, 5-1) have already played one five-goal thriller.
This means the league title could be decided by the rematch Wednesday in Fillmore.
“Fillmore-Santa Paula,” said Fillmore head coach Jose Luis Lomeli. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
Lomeli, who guided the Flashes boys program to the 2016 Division 7 championship, returned to Fillmore last year to take over the girls team. His daughter, Karissa Terrazas, is a freshman.
“They didn’t have a coach last year, so I stepped up,” Lomeli said. “We’re a sophomore-heavy team.”
Sophomore forward Marlene Gonzalez leads the team in goals. Seniors Isabela Regalado, who missed last season with a knee injury, and Aliya Baez provide leadership.
“We’re well-rounded,” Lomeli said. “I don’t think we have a superstar. Everyone is playing together. … Overall, that’s helped us.”
Fillmore edged Santa Paula, 3-2, on Jan. 19.
“When we had the game out at their place, it was a dogfight,” Lomeli said. “They’re a very good team. … I think we’re going to be in a lot of battles with them these next couple years.”
Powered by junior striker Cynthia Ramos (15 goals) and sophomore attacker Melanie Torres (five goals), Santa Paula isn’t shy going forward.
“We’re going to go and try to score as many as we can,” said Santa Paula head coach Jesus Cordova.
Junior forward Daisy Vaca leads the defense for the Cardinals, who have won postseason games the past three seasons, including a sectional semifinal run in 2020.
Despite graduating forwards Jennifer Cruz and Jakeline Novela, who combined for 24 goals in 16 games last year, Hueneme (4-7-1, 3-2-1) seems headed back to the postseason.
The Vikings are sitting in third place and have beaten fourth-place Nordhoff twice head to head.
“I knew it was going to be tough with 90% of our offense graduated,” Hueneme head coach Francisco Salazar said.
Freshman forward Danahi Olea has stepped into the void. Sophomore Natalie Ruiz and midfielder Kaylyn Lopez have also played well.
Tri-Valley Athletic Association
A group of four-year starters has put Grace Brethren (8-2-1, 5-0) on the cusp of a Tri-Valley League title.
Ranked No. 3 in Division 6, the Lancers have outscored league opposition 12-1.
“It’s been better than I expected,” said Grace Brethren head coach Vince Allegra.
The team is anchored by seniors like playmaker Shiloh Pirro, fullback Lizzie Brown, defender Kayla Kolesar and midfielder Maddie Martinez, who has scored direct from a corner kick — aka an "Olympico" — three times this season.
“They’ve grown up in the program,” Allegra said. “They’ve put in that time. We’re finally seeing the experience of everything they’ve gone through.”
Sophomores Priya Torres and Jayden Wilson give the Lancers a productive strike force.
“They’re pretty dangerous,” Allegra said. “It’s fun to watch them play, they’ve come into their own this year.”
Grace Brethren’s run has been impressive, considering Santa Clara (9-2-1, 4-2-1) returns much of the core that reached the Division 7 final in 2020.
Defender Ruby Romero, midfielder Emily Ordaz, playmaker Yami Ordaz and striker Bella Garcia are among seven players who experienced that postseason run.
“It’s the base of the team,” Santa Clara head coach Jose Abraham Pina said.
The Saints started the season 7-0 and were on a nine-match unbeaten run when COVID-19 protocols forced a month-long break.
Grace Brethren took control of the league race by beating Santa Clara 4-0 on Jan. 22 and 1-0 on Tuesday.
Defending Division 6 champion St. Bonaventure (6-4-2, 2-3-1) sits in fourth place under first-year head coach Paulo Monileo.
Thacher (9-0-1, 7-0) is flying atop the Frontier League standings.
After missing last season due to COVID-19, the Toads have outscored opponents, 67-4.
“My girls are pretty hungry this year because they didn’t have a season last year,” said Thacher head coach A.J. Yates. “Even though we didn’t compete last year, we played on campus a lot.”
It’s shown. Thacher is averaging 6.7 goals per game.
Juniors Jordan Yates (26 goals, 11 assists) and Hattie Hatton (18 goals and 16 assists) are both in the top 10 in the Southern Section in points, according to MaxPreps.
Both were part of the Toads’ sectional quarterfinal run in 2020. Feira, the freshman winger, gives Thacher “a three-headed monster,” Yates said.
“We’re putting up a lot of numbers,” Yates said. “We’re scoring a lot of goals. It’s hard to defend us.”
Joe Curley covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage of local high school sports, follow @vcspreps on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Talent pool continues to swell for local girls soccer programs
