Plenty of new faces on ACHS girls' soccer team
Roster undergoes major personnel changes
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers FOCUSED- Camarillo goalkeeper Brooke Nixon works on her skills during Wednesday's practice. Nixon, a junior, is serving as a co-captain on a Scorpion squad that features 11 new players.

The Camarillo High girls' soccer team knew it would have to defend its share of the Pacific View League title this season. How the Scorpions will go about defending that title is the surprise.

ACHS, who claimed a share of the league championship with Oxnard High last year, believed it would have a lot of experience this season. However, after negative feelings about the offseason workout program began to disrupt the team, many of the Scorpion returnees quit. Now the Camarillo 17player squad features 11 newcomers.

"We lost a couple of our seniors because of attitude problems early this year," junior co-captain goalkeeper Brooke Nixon said. "It was a little depressing at first, since I loved playing with those girls, but I soon got over it. I figured this is the team we have now, and I have to win with them."

With so many newcomers, Nixon said there were trust problems earlier in the season.

"There was still some negativity with the new team, but I think we're getting there now," Nixon said. "We've only played four games, so we are all very new to each other, and we're just beginning to trust each other. We have to start trusting the new players, because if we don't, the new players aren't going to trust themselves."

On Tuesday night at Calabasas High, Camarillo was able to pull out a 1-1 tie with the Coyotes.

The lone Scorpion goal came from senior Jessica Hague from 10 yards out in the 32nd minute. Hague's goal was made possible due to a nifty pass from senior Ashley Gnagy in front of Coyote goalkeeper Mazelle Dadon. After the game, Camarillo head coach Chris Lawler raved about Hague.

"I love her ability to get to the ball first," Lawler said. "She's new to the varsity level this season, and she has put in the extra effort every day since being here."

According to Lawler, the Gnagy-to-Hague pass was just one example of the old and new Scorpion players communicating better with each other on the field.

"We need to find a rhythm; we need to find our own game," Lawler said. "Tonight we did that. We have many premier club players on this team, but we have to get used to playing with each other (at Camarillo)."

On defense, the Scorpions allowed only a Jessica Hager goal in the 47th minute. After the game, Lawler said she was impressed with Nixon's play in the cage.

"Her timing was phenomenal," Lawler said. "She made a huge save early that helped us get through the first half.

"I was also glad to see her take charge more out on the field. This was the first game in which I could hear her talking to the defense. She's showing a lot more confidence this season as a leader."

While the defense was in top shape Tuesday, the offense showed signs of promise as well, with junior Rebekah Smith and senior co-captain Jaimey Farranto leading the attack. Although Farranto didn't score, she outhustled her defenders for the majority of the game.

"Jamie is just a rug rat," Lawler said. "She is always giving 100 percent, whether it's in practice or in a game. She was benched last season, and I believe she really took that to heart. She's spewing a lot more energy out on the field, and she's proving that she belongs out there this year."

Nixon said players like Farranto are exactly what the Scorpions need to be successful.

"We may have a lot of new players, but we do have a lot of hard workers on the field now," Nixon said. "I'd love to win the Pacific View League, and we have the intensity and heart on this team to get it done."