FC Hasental hosts one of its biggest matches of the season Saturday at Rancho Santa Susana Park in Simi Valley, when it hosts Western Conference-leading San Diego Flash at 5 p.m.

Hasental (3-5-1) is stuck on a three-match losing streak. Unbeaten San Diego (8-0-1), coached by Fox Soccer Channel analyst and former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton, has won seven straight.

"They're a tough team to play," said Hasental coach Eric Warner. "I think they're a lot like the Fusion, real direct with athletes all over the pitch. They just go at you for 90 (minutes)... It appears to be daunting."

But Warner hopes a big opponent will pull a big performance out of his team.

"We usually play better against better teams," said Warner. "I'm sure everyone will be focused... I know we'll show up to play. From that sense, it'll be a good game to watch."

Having qualified for the U.S. Open Cup for the third straight
season, the Fusion will face NPSL club Fullerton Rangers May 15 at the
Santa Ana Bowl in the first round.

Rangers earned the berth by topping Hasental 2-1 in a qualifier March
27, so the two local sides in U.S. Soccer's fourth tier could have
been matched up against each other.

The Ventura County Fusion have local company in the fourth tier of the American soccer pyramid.

FC Hasental, based in the Conejo Valley, made the leap from the Gran Liga De Oxnard into the National Premier Soccer League this season.

The NPSL is a 38-team national league similar to the PDL with teams in 19 states from New Hampshire to Georgia, Minnesota to California.

"The league has seen some growth over the past few year," said Hasental general manager Briggs Palmer.

"Los Conejos," who play their matches at Calabasas High and Oxnard College, feature several local products on their roster, including Oxnard College products Jonny Martinez, Abel Pacheco and Alberto Anguiano, as well as Moorpark College products Luis Armondo Gutierrez and Jose Luis Garcia.

With 16 points from 10 matches, Hasental sits in fourth place in the Western Conference with four matches to play in the regular season.