Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill on the Fusion's 2-1 win in the Western Conference title game Friday in Laredo, Tex.

"Two trophies on the mantelpiece. All that's left is the big one now."

Despite a 5-0 loss on the scoreboard, Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill called the Burnley friendly at Buena High Tuesday night "the greatest night in Fusion history."

"I thought I was watching a match in England," said Shergill.

I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout. The match drew an announced paid attendance of 3,358, which is about three times the typical Fusion gate. Despite Chelsea playing Inter Milan 70 miles away at the Rose Bowl in Jose Mourinho's reunion match (which drew 81,000 fans). Despite the match falling on a Tuesday night in summer during a stretch when the Fusion can play four matches in seven days. Despite the Fusion spending just $300 to promote the game (which paid for a couple local radio spots).

"What a response from the people of Ventura County," said Shergill. "Fantastic. The whole exercise has been fantastic. I can't believe it happened. It's a dream come true for the Fusion."

The club now has less than 48 hours to build the emotions back up for the first playoff game in franchise history.

UC Santa Barbara graduate Randi Johns converted a rebound goal midway through the first half as the Ventura County Fusion women's soccer team earned its first win of the W-League season Monday night in Centennial, Colo.

The 1-0 win at Real Colorado avenged the Fusion's season-opening loss on May 16.
"Today we got our revenge," said coach Ranbir Shergil, who earned his first victory as head coach.

Heloisa Olivera earned a free kick in the 35th minute, which Fabiane Nascimento drove off the post. Johns was in position to convert the ricochet into the net and the Fusion (1-1-1) into the win column, despite missing several key players on the five-day trip.

"It's unbelievable, really," said Shergill. "We played many players out of position. But we worked hard as a team and got the result."

The Fusion entered play in seventh and last place in the Western Conference, but had played between two and five matches fewer than the other teams in the conference.

The Fusion visit the Colorado Force in Fort Collins Wednesday before returning home to Buena High Saturday against the first-place Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Ventura County Fusion women's soccer team drew 2-2 at the Los Angeles Legends Sunday night despite taking a two-goal lead inside 15 minutes.

Ventura College star Jazmarae Strozier slammed home the opener after winger Randi Johns played a pass across the face of goal in the eighth minute.

Four minutes later, Brazilian attacker Paula Pires converted a cross from former Buena High star Emily Cressy for a 2-0 lead.

But the Legends would pull even before halftime on a pair of set pieces, scoring from a long throw and a free kick.

Despite dropping to 0-1-1, Fusion coach Ranbir Shergill appreciated the team's improvement from the season-opening 3-1 loss to Real Colorado May 16.

"We just looked a lot better," said Shergill. "We had addition time of preparation. We moved the ball very well. We passed and moved very well. At the end we were really unlucky not to take all three points.

"We looked like a good team out there."

The Fusion women next take their annual road trip to Colorado, visiting Real Colorado June 15 and the Colorado Force in Fort Collins June 17.

A little more than three months before its third Premier Development League season kicks off, the Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team has plenty of time to full out its 28-player roster.

But the Fusion have already held two tryout sessions and have 11 players confirmed to return to the team, according to general manager Ranbir Shergill.

The 11 returning players include Gurgen Adzemian, Arturo Aghasyan, Dylan Barna, Joe Buppert, Danny Barerra, Bryan Byrne, Hagop Chirishian, Armondo Guerrero, Patrick McLain, Guilherme Mitrovitch and Anton Peterlin

Shergill confirmed that neither of the two goalkeepers, Logan Frank or Bryan Hill, who backstopped consecutive third-place finishes in the Southwest Division will return.

It is a big blow to a team that conceded a Western Conference-low 14 goals in 2008.

Ventura County soccer fans can look forward to a treat next week as two teams from Major League Soccer will set up preseason training camp at Oxnard College Monday.

Real Salt Lake, which saw its Cinderella 2008 season end in the Western Conference finals, and enthusiastic expansion franchise Seattle Sounders

Both teams will train in Oxnard until Feb. 14.

Four-time Swedish champion GAIS of Gotheberg will arrive Feb. 6 and also train until Valentine's Day.

Chinese Super League champions Shandong Luneng Taishan is also expected to arrive next week.

All four teams will play friendlies in February against the Ventura County Fusion, which defeated the Columbus Crew last February, 1-0, on a goal by Oxnard College striker Sergio Garcia.

The Crew went on the raise the MLS Cup.

"The preparation that they had in Ventura (County) helped them go on and win the league," said Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill.