Moorpark's run can be attributed the play of contributors like middle blocker Gabriella Luciani, outside hitters Brooke Mataela and Alyssa Del Sesto and setters Jessica Soprano and Taylor Fredrick around a star like middle blocker Karissa Flack, who may be the top player in the state.

The 6-foot sophomore from Newbury Park High is leading the WSC in kills (353), hitting percentage (.461) and solo blocks (61).

"I think that Karissa keeps improving, which is really nice to see," said Burkhart. "She's pretty much achieved what I expected of her this year. I just can't remember a time when one kid dominated a league like she has... Right now, it's her time."

Flack, who originally signed with Wright State out of high school, has been recruited by North Texas and Loyola of Chicago for much of the year. Local schools like Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara have contacted her recently. Alabama just visited Raider Pavilion to watch her practice.

"It started out as a trickle and now you're getting three or four calls per day," said Burkhart. "She's worked hard and she's a good student, so she's done everything she needs to do to put herself in a good position."

Fusion assistant coach Bob McNabb, the former Arsenal great, has reminded Mikkelsen that the players pick themselves by their performances.

Nevertheless, with a deep squad full of contributors over the 16-game season, Mikkelsen will have some decisions to make this weekend. The Fusion had 39 different players suit up this summer, including 27 who played more than three games.

"Some thought goes into formations and who plays well together," said Mikkelsen. "You try and pick the team with some hope that the players have familiarity with each other.

"Going forward we won't be too dramatic of a difference from what you've seen during the season."

Perhaps the two toughest decisions will be in front of either goal.

With eight and seven appearances, respectively, UCLA's Brian Rowe and UC Santa Barbara's Sam Hayden have virtually split the goalkeeping position. Both have three shutouts. Both have allowed less than a goal per game.

The other quandary is up front, where Mark Magee (eight goals) started so strong, Gyasi Zardes (two goals in five games) finished so strong and Callum Riley (five goals, three assists) has been so versatile.

"It's about who's in the best form," said Mikkelsen.

Sam Hayden, the UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper who has allowed 0.382 goals per game and made 24 saves in six appearances this season, suffered a concussion Thursday and has yet to be cleared medically for the Fusion's trip to play the Los Angeles Blues at Palisades High.

Not to be confused with the club's professional side, which knocked the Fusion out of the U.S. Open Cup last month, the Blues PDL team is 3-6-2 and sits in fifth place in the Southwestern Division.

The Fusion have already taken four points from the Blues, winning 4-0 at home May 13 and drawing 1-1 on the road June 2.

The two assists give Barrera nine in just seven games, which leads the entire 64-team PDL. The Westlake High product and UC Santa Barbara attacker is also third in points with 15.

Bryan Hill, 33, who backstopped the Fusion to the 2009 PDL title, is adjusting to a new role this summer.

One of the original Fusion players, the veteran has become into the Fusion's goalkeeping coach, yielding the sticks to UCLA goalkeeper Brian Rowe and UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper Sam Hayden.

"There were a couple different factors," said Hill, who also coaches goalies at Oxnard College. "One was the talent that I knew we had coming in with Brian and Sam. Those two are tremendous goalkeepers."

Hill is still on call in case of injury, but the Oregon State product is focused on his coaching career.

"I can definitely still step in and play," said Hill. "But my stance form the beginning has been to let the college guys develop and get a chance to work towards a professional contract."

The Ventura College men's swimming team next spring will feature its biggest group of returning All-Americans after eight freshmen earned the elite status this season.

"That's the most we've ever had," said Ventura coach Larry Baratte. "That's the exciting part for next year."

In total, 14 Ventura College swimmers, 12 men, two women -- plus six relay teams -- were unveiled as All-Americans earlier this month when the final performance list was compiled.

The All-American swimming teams feature the Top 16 performances nationally in each event.

The men's team included freshman Eric Donahoo in the 50 freestyle (21.08 seconds), 100 freestyle (45.76), and 200 freestyle (1:39.13); freshman Steven Tennant in the 100 freestyle (45..31), 200 freestyle (1:39.48), 100 backstroke (50.22) and 200 backstroke (1:54.47); sophomore Erik Rennspiess in the 200 freestyle (1:41.26) and 200 individual medley (1:55.27); sophomore Collin Baratte in the 500 freestyle (4:38.33), 100 backstroke (52.30) and 200 backstroke (1:52.00); sophomore Jordan Singleton in the 100 backstroke (51.15) and 200 backstroke (1:50.57); freshman Thomas Maires in the mile freestyle (16:30.88); freshman Brendan DeLear in the mile freestyle (16:51.92); sophomore Aaron Fukutomi in the mile freestyle (16:54.74); freshman Griffin Pool in the mile freestyle (16:57.15); freshman Coleman Goode in the 400 individual medley (4:08.58); freshman Tyler Kaslik in the 200 butterfly (1:54.44) and freshman Spencer Lewis in the 100 backstroke (52.71).

The women's team included Lisa Simmons in 1-meter (204.75 points) and 3-meter (199.55) diving. And Kayleigh Jeffrey in the 200 freestyle (1:56.77), 500 freestyle (5:15.15) and 800 freestyle relay, along with teammates Amber Bennett, Lori Anderson and Samantha Ebberson.

The men's All-American relays were the 200 freestyle (Spencer McGrath, Singleton, Donahoo and Tennant), the 400 freestyle (Tennant, Singleton, Rennspiess and Donahoo), the 800 freestyle (Donahoo, Rennspiess , Baratte, Tennant), the 200 medley (Baratte, Good, Singleton and Donahoo), and the 400 medley (Tennant, Good, Baratte,
Rennspiess).

Combine the individual and relay honors and Tennant was an eight-event All-American. Donahoo was a seven-event All-American. With five as a freshman and six as a sophomore, Baratte, who will swim next year at UC Santa Barbara, graduates as an 11-event All-American.

Rennspiess has committed to Massachusetts. Singleton will transfer to Cal Baptist. Jeffrey will decide between Cal State Northridge and Cal State Bakersfield.

Singleton, Donahoo, Kaslik, Maires, Pool, Anderson and Jeffrey were also honored on the National Community College Academic All-American team. The team's requirements include an All-American swimming performance with a 3.2 cumulative GPA.

Any season begins with a hint of trepidation.

Will the decisions made during the offseason really bear out on the field like they were envisioned?

In the case of the 2011 Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team, the answer, thus far, has been a resounding yes.

The Fusion have opened the season with a flourish, leading the 64-team Premier Development League with 19 goals scored and a plus-16 goal difference.

"You never know what's going to happen until a ball is kicked," said Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill. "But to see the planning come to fruition in this manner, you can't hope for anything more."

Since opening the season with a scoreless draw against visiting Fresno, the Fusion have been thoroughly entertaining, averaging nearly five goals per game.

"We've had a dream start and we just have to keep it going," said Shergill.

Striker Mark MaGee leads the PDL with five goals and is second in points with 10.

Attacking midfielder Danny Barrera, a Westlake High graduate, and fellow UC Santa Barbara product David Walker are tied for second in the PDL in assists with three apiece.
Striker Reed Williams and midfielder Andy Rose, both UCLA products, are tied for 12th with seven points apiece.

"It's kind of the vision that we set out from the outset," said Shergill. "We want to play good, attractive soccer so people will come watch us play."

The Fusion's 7-2 romp over Orange County Friday set the franchise record for goals in a game.

The previous record came in the PDL semifinals on Aug. 1, 2008, one week before the Fusion won the PDL continental title at Buena High, when Rodrigo Lopez inspired the Fusion's 6-1 thrashing of the Bradenton Academics at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex in Laredo, Tex.

Lopez, who is now with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer, had two goals and an assist.

"We know we're not going to win every game by a load of goals, because that's not the way it works," said Shergill. "We just have to keep playing good soccer and getting the results."