A road trip in the National Premier Soccer League can be just that, six or seven hours in a van.

"It's difficult to be on the road for seven hours, take a couple hours to recoup and then jump into a competitive arena," said Hasental coach Eric Warner. "That showed last week for us. We're a young team and that shows on the road."

F.C. Hasental (3-3-1) saw its four-match unbeaten streak halted Saturday in Oakland with a 1-0 loss to the Bay Area Ambassadors.

At seven hours, Saturday's road trip to the Sonoma Sol is expected to be an hour longer.

"It's your whole weekend," said Warner. "That's our lot in life as a fourth division American soccer team."

Los Conejos will have to soldier on without several of its key players at the back, including captain Taylor Canel, Jeff Quijano and Chris Cummings, who have work and school commitments.

"It'll be a good challenge," said Warner.

Once over this obstacle, Hasental will host its next four matches at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park in Simi Valley.

After scoring twice in the final 20 minutes to pull
out a 2-2 draw with the Santa Clarita Storm in its home opener last
weekend, F.C. Hasental (1-2-1), the local entrant in the National

Premier Soccer League, is unbeaten in its last two matches ahead of
tonight's home match against the Phoenix Monsoon at Cal Lutheran's
Rolland Stadium.

"There's a good energy within the squad," said coach Eric Warner.
"They all know what they need to do. Now it's a matter of doing it."

Los Conejos solidified their defense last month by moving captain
Taylor Canel to centerback. The veteran, who missed last week's match,
is expected to make his 150th appearance for the club tonight.

"Having him back there has changed everything," said Warner. "He's
organized us. There's a lot more pride in defending as a team."

Former Michigan defender Jeff Quijano, a Simi Valley native who scored
the equalizer last week, as well as former Agoura High midfielder
Jordan Palmar, former Oxnard College winger Alberto Anguiano and
Moorpark College products Armando Gutierrez, Jose Luis Garcia and
Agustin Casarez are among the Los Conejos locals.

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.