Ventura County Fusion's Premier Development League (PDL) men's team is seeking soccer players from the Ventura County area who believe they are good enough to play professionally. Players are needed for Fusion’s 2009 season roster. Tryouts will be held at Ventura College in Ventura on December 13-14, 2008 and January 17-18, 2009. Registration is open online now at www.venturacountyfusion.com.
Head Coach Graham Smith is looking for top college players and undiscovered talent playing in local men’s leagues, in particular those who think they may have a shot at “turning pro”. Smith, a former FIFA-licensed player agent and ex-professional player, maintains a network of contacts around the world and is looking for “breakthrough” players that can be placed with professional clubs here in the United States and overseas. Fusion players have previously obtained trials with clubs in Sweden, France, Portugal, Germany and England. Former Fusion players are currently signed with professional clubs in the MLS and United Soccer League (USL)-Division One.
The mission of the USL Premier Development League, the third-level tier of competition below the MLS in which the Fusion men’s team plays, is to bring talent to the attention of professional clubs and to give players an experience similar to that of professionals by playing in a high-level competitive league in front of paid attendances. Many of the League’s teams feature players with experience of playing for USA national teams at junior level or for other nations, and for overseas clubs. Successful teams can advance to national playoffs. The League has an amateur status so that top college players are eligible to participate during summer break.
Fusion is also seeking non-NCAA college players for a series of winter exhibitions against professional opposition. The tryouts will determine your suitability for playing in these exhibition games. In February 2008, Fusion played Hammerby of Sweden, Real Salt Lake and Columbus Crew. Fusion beat Crew, then the reigning MLS champs, by a score of 1-0. A similar series is being planned for February 2009.
More details and an application are available at www.venturacountyfusion.com.
Ventura County Fusion Announce
Next Soccer School Session
The Ventura County Fusion Soccer School provides 6 weeks of professional soccer training tailored specifically towards younger soccer players.
Session Dates: November 4th - December 18th (Thanksgiving week off)
Class Schedule: Every Tuesday & Thursday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Ages: Boys & Girls ages 4 - 8
Location: Ventura Community Park (901 S. Kimball Rd., Ventura, CA, 93004)
For more information contact (805) 830-8027 or soccerschool@venturacountyfusion.com
Ventura County Fusion On TV
The Ventura County Fusion has been featured on the current episode of the USL Breakaways TV Program which airs on the Fox Soccer Channel. The program airs the following times.
* August 9th - 2:00 pm
* August 12th - 3:00 pm & 10:00 pm
* August 16th - 2:00 pm
* August 19th - 3:00 pm & 10:00 pm
* August 23rd - 2:00 pm
* August 26th - 3:00 pm & 10:00 pm
* September 9th - 3:00 pm
VC Fusion YSA Teams Post Impressive Results In Local Preseason Tournaments
Fusion Game against USA U-23 National Team. Goalscorer Emily Wynn
Pizarro seizing his opportunities
Former Fusion player makes MLS debut.
Wizards rookie makes MLS debut in draw vs. Fire
By Bob Rusert / MLSnet.com Staff
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- There are some who deride Major League Soccer for allowing young U.S. players such as Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley and Freddy Adu to leave their home domestic league for Europe. But for every Dempsey, Beasley or Adu, there is a Nelson Pizarro being discovered.
The 23-year-old made his senior team debut in the Kansas City Wizards' home scoreless draw on Sunday against the Chicago Fire, entering in the 80th minute. His full professional debut came three months after he was signed by the Wizards after being spotted in an open tryout.
Sometime before Feb. 23 of this year, the Pembroke Pines, Fla. native "happened to see" the MLS club was holding its first open tryout.
"I saved up some money, my dad helped me out, and I just went and the best came out of it," said Pizarro after his first MLS minutes. "[The Wizards] gave me an opportunity to get here. So I had to do what I needed to do to [get first team minutes]."
All Pizarro had done was impress head coach Curt Onalfo and his staff with his performances in reserve matches -- three goals and two assists in six games plus a goal against Atlas in a 2-1 friendly win on July 11. His last goal was of the spectacular variety.
Taking a feed from midfielder Ryan McMahen in last Tuesday's reserve match against the New York Red Bulls, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound midfielder struck a right-footed, 30-yard blast into the upper right corner of the goal, leaving goalkeeper Caleb Patterson helpless.
"Goals [are my strong suit.] I'm a flashy player I guess. I'm really quick. I'm attack-minded, and I just want to go help out the team wherever I can," said the Lincoln Memorial University (Tenn.) product.
Needing an offensive push against Chicago, Onalfo called upon the "opportunistic" Pizarro. And even though he didn't come through with a goal in his 10 minutes at right midfield, Pizarro made another positive impression.
"I thought he did well. Nelson is a guy who has been taking advantage of his opportunities with the reserve team. He has scored four very, very good goals for [them] in limited opportunities," said Onalfo. "He stepped in and did pretty well; he didn't look nervous. He's continued to progress."
FUSION TEAMS UP WITH AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Ventura County Fusion will live up to its mission of “fusion of soccer and community” on Sunday July 13th when fans arriving for a soccer double-header at Buena High School stadium, kicking off at 4:00pm, will be greeted by volunteers from the American Cancer Society intending to raise cancer awareness, inform about volunteer opportunities, and honor cancer survivors and caregivers.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has over 3,400 local offices committed to fighting cancer through research, education, patient service, advocacy, and rehabilitation. Volunteers from the Ventura region will offer arriving fans information about sunscreen safety and uv awareness, and about the ACS and its programs.
One of those programs, Relay for Life, is a popular fundraiser. Teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Volunteers from the Ventura region will demonstrate a Relay for Life event on Sunday with a lap around the soccer field to honor cancer survivors and caregivers.
Fusion General Manager Ranbir Shergill said, “We enjoy making our soccer club part of the community. The American Cancer Society do good work that can’t survive without public support and encouragement, and our fans get information that keeps them health conscious, so it’s a win-win situation for all of us.”
Ventura County Fusion’s women’s team kick off at 4:00pm against Real Colorado in the USL W-League and the men, challenging for a play-off place in their last scheduled home game of the season, kick off at 6:30pm against OC Bluestar. Both games are sponsored by Jersey Mike’s Subs. Tickets (adult $12, children $8) are available at the gate.
Super-20 team has come a long way
Special Cancer Awareness Program will Inform Soccer Fans at Double-header on Sunday July 13th.
The team in the shadow is ending its debut season as bright as a sunburst.
But Ross Greaney remembers how darkly things began for the Ventura County Fusion's Super-20 team.
The Fusion Super-20 team, full of local products under 20 years old who serve as a feeder team for the men's Premier Development League side, opened its history with a 5-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy's Super-20 entry on May 11.
"We were absolutely humiliated," said Greaney, the team's coach. "After the game, I told the players, Some of you can quit. Some of you will be cut. But we're going to beat the Galaxy the next time we play them.'
"The guys just looked at me funny."
But Greaney's prediction came true June 29, when the Fusion traveled to Home Depot Center and defeated the Galaxy, 2-0, on goals by former Pacific View League stars Gabriel Gonzalez (Oxnard High) and Danny Rodriguez (Pacifica).
The win, combined with Saturday's 8-0 drubbing of Riverside MGFM, pushed the Fusion into first place in the Super-20 League's Pacific Division.
A win over the second-place Poway Vaqueros in the season finale at Ventura College's Sportsplex at 5 Saturday night will clinch the division title and a trip to the Super-20 North American finals later this month in Virginia Beach.
"I believe in the guys," said Greaney. "They came a long way.
"It has been easy, but we've given ourselves a chance to make something really special of the season."
Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill decided before the season to use the Super-20 team to develop local talent for the PDL team.
"Ranbir really wanted to push to give the local kids an opportunity to work their way up to the PDL team," said Greaney. "It took a while but the team has found its own identity."
Greaney used his contacts as the Oxnard College men's soccer coach to build a team that includes Gonzalez, his former Condors captain and star who has scored nine times in nine matches, and local high school graduates like goalkeeper Garrett Brown (Ventura), defensive midfielder Johnny Martinez (Fillmore High), attacking midfielder Abel Pacheco (Ventura) and wingers Jose Arrevalo (Channel Islands and Emilio Ramirez (Oxnard).
"The U20s have been a very exciting project," said Shergill. ""Certainly (Greaney's) ability to bring in the right players at the right time has made the difference in this team.
"With one game left, it's in a pretty exciting position."
The payoff: For many of the Super-20 players, the potential eastbound trip to Virginia Beach would be a memorable event.
"I can't think of many of these kids who have been out of Ventura County, besides trips with us," said Greaney. "It's just a really fun opportunity."
The playoff push: With two weeks and four matches left in the PDL season, the Fusion men find themselves in a familiar position.
In its inaugural campaign last year, the Fusion needed four points from its final two matches to clinch the Southwest Division title. But ties with the Southern California Seahorses and Los Angeles Legends relegated it to a fourth-place finish.
This year, after collecting just two points from its first four matches, the Fusion have gone 6-1-1 in its last eight matches to pull within a point of the second-place Legends with a game in hand.
"You've got to take each game one at a time," said Shergill. "It's a tough league. It's so close at the top. Right now, anything is possible."
A win Friday at Lancaster will put it two points clear of third place, and within two points of first-place Fresno, with three matches to play.
The top two teams in the division advance to the four-team western regional July 25 and 27. Shergill said that, should the Fusion men make the postseason, the Fusion will apply to host the regional.
Season finale: The Fusion men and women wrap up their home schedules Sunday with a doubleheader at Buena High.
The Fusion women host Real Colorado at 4 p.m. and the Fusion men line up against the Orange County Blue Star at 7 p.m.
A percentage of proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Fusion improves playoff prospects with 2-0 victory
By Joe Curley, Sunday, July 6, 2008
The cream, said Alfonso Motagalvan, rises to the top.
Hence, at the three-quarter pole of the Premier Development League season, the Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team finds itself in playoff position for the first time.
Motagalvan, the Fusion captain, gave the Fusion an early lead and defender-turned-striker Lee Stevens also found the net as the Fusion breezed by the Southern California Seahorses, 2-0, Saturday night at La Mirada High.
The Fusion is 6-1-1 since going winless in its first four matches.
"We knew we had it in us," said Motagalvan. "We gave away those first four games. We knew we were better than that. It was just a matter of us coming together.
The Fusion (6-3-3) moved into a second-place tie with the Los Angeles Legends with four matches to play. The top two teams in the Southwest Division advance to the playoffs.
The Fusion finished in fourth place, two points off the pace, last season.
"Right now, it's crunch time and the boys are digging in," said Motagalvan.
Midfielder Rodrigo Lopez assisted both Fusion goals, setting up Motagalvan off a set piece in the fourth minute and finding Stevens with a cross in the 60th minute.
"He's a great player, technically and tactically," said Motagalvan of the former Chivas USA player. "Since he's played at the next level, he knows what it means to show up every game and play. He brings a lot to the team.
"He's our engine right now. Everything we do runs through him."
After struggling to a 1-1 draw with ninth-place Lancaster on June 28, the Fusion wanted to jump ahead Saturday.
It grabbed the advantage when Motagalvan one-timed Lopez's free kick at the top of the penalty area.
"The most important thing was we got the lead early," said Motagalvan."
The Fusion were without goalkeeper Logan Frank (concussion), but Bryan Hill kept the team's sixth shutout of the season.
The Fusion travels to Lancaster on Friday before hosting its final home match of the season Sunday at Buena High.
PODCAST #7
Fanzone # 7 http://www.101soccer.com/media/shows/FusionFanZone7.mp3
Included are highlights from the 1-0 win over the Legends, interview with MOTM Brian Byrne, analysis from Joe Curley on the W-League team's first win, Catching Up With Coach Graham Smith, and an interview with Armenian import Artur Agasyan.
Highlights from the 3-0 win, interview with MOTM Rodrigo Lopez, interview with Joslyn Slavik, W-League keeper
Interviews with youth Academy coach Pat O'Brien and Technical Director Dario Pott
Fusion 3 Fresno 0
Fusion Fanzone Podcast #4
Featuring: Quakes v. Fusion highlights, Interviews with Jason Leopoldo, Graham Smith, Hagop Chrishian and Michael Farfan.
FUSION MENS PDL 1 LOS ANGELES LEGENDS 0
PODCAST #8
Fusion Ladies open USL W-League Season at Buena High School Stadium on Saturday May 10th
Ventura County Fusion brings top-level competitive women’s soccer to Ventura County for the first time ever and promises to put stars from around the world on display at Buena High School Stadium over the summer after the Fusion ladies open their season in the most elite women’s league in the nation on Saturday May 10th, kick off 5:00pm.
Fusion’s opponents in the USL W-League will be the Pali Blues, featuring three Australian internationals from last year’s Women’s World Cup and former US international Jill Oakes. Since the collapse of WUSA, the women’s professional league, the USL W-League has become the highest level of play available to women in the US and Canada and each year attracts the best international players from countries all over the globe.
Ladies’ Head Coach Michelle Myers is excited about the start of the new season and about assembling her squad. “We’re going to be juggling the roster for the first few weeks because not all our players are available at the same time, but once we get all the pieces put together I think we’re going to have a very good team,” said Myers. Myers is currently working with a pool of 32 players that includes players with Division One college experience, USA junior internationals, and several local girls returning to play on home turf. Missing for the first three games will be headliners Kasey Moore (Texas) and Ashley Nick (USC) who are with the USA u-23 National Team in Germany until May 21st.
“The girls have shown a great attitude and worked hard in training. You can’t fault their enthusiasm. We have one player who has commuted from Orange County for every training session and one player who has moved here from Hawaii for the summer just to play for us.”
The commuter with the 150-mile round trip is Madison Klovstad, a speedy goal-scoring forward from Texas A&M who was part of the Aggies’ Big 12 Conference Championship team. Shari Nishikawa lives in Kaneohe and has been working at the Honolulu Zoo as a zoo-keeper after graduating from Loyola Marymount University where defensive performances earned her a “Player of the Year” accolade. They are joined by two more members of USC’s 2007 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship team, midfielder-forward Megan Ohai and defender Kasey Johnson. Johnson and Ohai have been in national pools since the age of sixteen. “Both women were invited to join the USA u-20 national squad this summer,” said Myers, “but chose to play here so they could do some other things as well.”
Returning to scenes of former glory are at least two members of the Buena High School team once ranked No. 1 in the country, Emily Cressy (Kansas Univ) and Katie Gibson (CSUF). Yeraldy Hurtado (Long Beach State) may also put in an appearance during the season. Other local players include former Ventura College standout Allie Avina of Somis (UCSD), Tenley Garcia of Oxnard (Holy Names, Oxnard College), Sienna Kluck of Thousand Oaks (Ventura College) and Sarah Stoltz of Ojai (UCSB).
Fusion Fanzone Podcast # 3
Interview with Head Womens Coach Michelle Myers, Head Mens Coach Graham Smith and Man of the Match Rodrigo Lopez
SOCCER FEAST IN VENTURA ON SATURDAY
Fans Treated to Double-Header as Fusion
Ladies open USL W-League Season, Fusion Men play 2nd game of season
Ventura County Fusion gives local soccer fans a feast on Saturday May 10th with the first of three scheduled double-headers at Buena High School Stadium. The Fusion ladies will play their inaugural game in the USL-League, kick off 5:00pm, and the Fusion men will play the second game of their Premier Development League season in the second-half of the double-header under lights, kick-off 7:30 pm.
Fusion’s opponents in the USL W-League will be the Pali Blues, featuring three Australian internationals from last year’s Women’s World Cup and former US international Jill Oakes.The men face local rivals San Fernando Valley Quakes who pipped Fusion to a play-off place in last year’s final PDL run-in. Fusion tied Bakersfield Brigade 0-0 last Friday at Buena in the first game of their 2008 season.After seeing a great attendance for the men’s home opener, Fusion officials hope that local fans will rally in the same numbers for the women. The double-action promises great value at 15 for adults and $8 for children.
Listen To Fusion Podcast show # 2
Interviews with Head Coach Graham Smith, Team Captain Alfonzo Motigalvon and Goalkeeper Logan Frank.
EXCITING CHANGES FOR OPENING DAY
Changes in Roster, Coaching, Organization Mark Start of Fusion’s New Season
Local Boys mix with Players from Around the Globe
Ventura County Fusion, beginning its second season in the USL Premier Development League, has announced changes to its player roster for Opening Day on May 2nd 2008, together with advances in club organization. Head Coach Graham Smith hopes that the new roster, once again combining local talent with international flavor, will keep Fusion’s momentum building after an impressive inaugural year.
The first game of the new season for the Fusion’s men’s team will be at Buena High School Stadium when Bakersfield Brigade supply the opposition, kick-off 7:30pm.
Fusion is proud to report that six familiar players will be missing on Opening Day, having moved on to professional careers at MLS clubs: Chance Myers, Nelson Pizzaro (Kansas City Wizards), Johnny Alcaraz (Houston Dynamo), Eric Avila (FC Dallas), Vardan Adzemian, Greg Folk (Los Angeles Galaxy). “It’s sad to lose some familiar faces from last year,” said Head Coach Graham Smith, “but it’s great to see them lining up in the MLS. That’s what we’re all about, development.
Smith has brought in replacements from around the globe. Headlining the new-look Fusion will be goal-scoring midfielder Lee Stevens, imported from England, where he played in the 2007 FA Vase Final at the new Wembley Stadium in London for defeated finalists AFC Totton of the Wessex League. Stevens also played for Salisbury City, Swindon Town FC and Southampton FC.
Stevens is joined by defender Henrique de Paula of Itauna, Brazil. Henrique has appeared in his home country’s Second Division but more recently was a key member of the Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College men’s soccer team that claimed a third place finish in the 2007 National Junior College Athletic Association national soccer tournament. A second Brazilian defender joins the squad in Guilherme Mitorvitch of Santos, Brazil, who now lives in Santa Clarita and plays with the men’s team at Los Angeles Masters College.
Midfielder Jean Alexandre arrives from Verrettes, Haiti, by way of Lynn University, Florida, where he was named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the week after scoring his team’s game-winning goal in double-overtime in the regular season finale. 20-year old midfielder Rodrigo Lopez joins Fusion from Chivas USA, where last season he made 5 appearances in the MLS after signing from Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico). Jamaican Sylan Wignal, who made the all-Division One NCCAA team in 2007 as a defender with Los Angeles Masters College, can also use his 6” 4” frame to play center-forward.
Jaime Ambriz highlights a group of players with local connections. He is a former Rio Mesa High School student whose goal-scoring talents have taken him from UCSB, where he was leading scorer 3 years in a row, to Switzerland’s First Division (Concordia Basel, FC Winthertur, FV Lyss) and to the USL Division One with Portland Timbers. In Switzerland, Ambriz scored a league-leading 24 goals for Lyss during the 2002-2003 season. Midfielder Brian Jones, twice a winner of the Marmonte League Championship (2005, ’06) with Westlake High School and a State Championship winner with Samba in 2005, now plays at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Fillmore High School and Oxnard College product Sergio Garcia starts his first season with Fusion after scoring the winning goal against Columbus Crew during Fusion’s winter season of exhibitions.
They are joined by Jones’ Cal Poly team-mate Anton Peterlin, the versatile Chris Pontius from UCSB, central defender Joe Buppert from Santa Barbara City College, and attacking full-back Armando Guerrero from Lompoc.
“I’m thrilled at the prospect of working with these new players as well as the returnees that we think have a chance of making it in the future too,” said Coach Smith.
Goalkeeper Logan Frank, who was lost to injury midway through last season, is one of those returning along with Bryan Hill, the Oxnard resident who took over the goalkeeper position. UCLA stars Brad Russin and Jason Leopoldo, who also lost most of last season to injury, will both be back. Fusion fans will also recognize Gabe Chavez, Gabe Gonzales, Dillon Barna, Dylan Riley, Hagop Chirishian, Gurgen Adzemian, Richie Alcaraz and Danny Barrera, who recently came back after playing for 6-months in Europe. The Farfan twins, Mike and Gabe, will also return. Alfonso Motagalvan, who played 730 minutes for the Fusion in the PDL last season, is club captain for the 2008 campaign.
“A big factor for us this year”, said Smith, “is the development of our men’s u-20 team, coached by Ross Greaney. All of our younger players who don’t get much opportunity to play in the PDL can be kept active and prepared for moving up into the full PDL team.”
Another development is the introduction of Ole Mikkelsen as Smith’s Assistant, replacing Rudy Ybarra, who has other commitments. “Ole has done it all, from being the top scorer in UCLA history to playing professionally in the old NASL. He’s an A-licensed coach and a great mentor for the young players.”
Season tickets for Fusion’s 2008 PDL campaign are priced at $80 adult and $40 youth. This includes admission to 3 double-headers when the Fusion ladies’ team hosts W-League games on the same day. Combined season tickets for both men’s and women’s leagues are just $99 and $49. All tickets can be bought online through the club’s website at www.venturacountyfusion.com.
New Fusion Powerhour Radio Podcast Show #1
Local players are first in State to get path from Youth to Pro-Level all in one organization.
Ventura County Fusion, the exclusive Premier Development League soccer franchise for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, has announced the launch of its ground-breaking Fusion Youth Soccer Academy in February 2008.
The Academy is a fantastic concept for the local soccer community. It will provide a structured and progressive pyramid from youth leagues all the way to full professional, giving local youngsters a unique opportunity to advance from beginner to the highest levels of the game. The Fusion’s flagship ladies’ W-League team will give local girls a chance to progress and play at what is currently the highest level of women’s soccer in the USA. The Fusion men’s PDL team has already seen six players from last season’s roster move on to professional leagues around the world.
With its plans for top quality coaches, guest coaches from Europe and South America, a program of soccer camps and tournaments, opportunities for the best players to train with professional clubs abroad, a proposed affiliation with a top European club in the works, and the potential to feed into the professional system through an extensive network of personal (and professional) connections, Fusion is able to provide an enhanced environment for youth soccer that cannot be found anywhere else in Southern California. (In fact, it) exists in few places in the United States.
The Fusion Youth Soccer Academy will be spearheaded by a Board of Directors that includes Graham Smith, Fusion Head Coach and a former Director of Chelsea FC in the English Premier League; Ole Mikkelson, Fusion Director of Operations, Assistant Coach, and UCLA’s most-goals record holder; Ranbir Shergill, Fusion’s Founder and General Manager; Harold Edwards, CEO and President of Limoneira Company; and Martin O’Doherty, Founder and former President of Real California FC. To serve the best interests of its youth members, the Academy will be a Non Profit organization 501 (c) (3).
The Board’s strong management skills and substantial soccer pedigree are intended to provide long term stability as the Youth Academy seeks to attract and develop the best players in and around Ventura County (for years to come). The Academy will seek a balanced approach to sport, believing that all players should receive a positive and rewarding experience through the game of soccer whether they are going to advance to collegiate or professional careers (or play recreationally). The) Academy intends to introduce the same curriculum used in the academies of professional European clubs to make sure that (Fusion players are on the same footing as their international counterparts with whom they may eventually play).
Teams and players from Ventura County and Santa Barbara areas are welcome to join the Fusion Youth Academy. The Academy will hold free classes for players aged 8 to 11 with an interest in playing club soccer every Sunday from 3:30pm to 5pm in Kimball Park, Ventura, beginning February 10th 2008. Tryouts for older players will be announced shortly. For more information call 805-256-0925 or go to www.vcfusion.com.
Fusion to Give Fans Bonus
By Joe Curley, Ventura County Star, Wednesday, January 30, 2008
With so much of the talent from its inaugural season in demand by Major League Soccer clubs, the Ventura County Fusion will now see how its second edition measures up on the playing field. The Fusion announced it will host a pair of exhibition matches next month at Buena High against MLS opposition preparing locally for the upcoming season.
The Fusion will host Real Salt Lake on Friday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. and the Columbus Crew on Monday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $12 for adults and $6 for children. The Fusion is offering a two-game pack for $20 and $10 via its Web site."It's a great way to kick off the season," said Fusion general manager Ranbir Shergill. "It's not often you get pro team in the area, so it's nice. It gets the excitement going for the soccer fans."
In a soccer version of the Dallas Cowboys' renowned summers in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, both clubs will set up preseason training camps at Oxnard College in preparation for the upcoming MLS season. Real Salt Lake, featuring longtime U.S. international defender Eddie Pope and U.S. youth international goalkeeper Chris Seitz, a Thousand Oaks High graduate, is expected to arrive today and hold its first training session this afternoon.
The Crew, highlighted by former Argentine international Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who scored 106 goals for powerful Boca Juniors, and veteran U.S. international Frankie Hejduk, will arrive Feb. 20. "It rocks, man," said Oxnard College soccer coach Ross Greaney, a Fusion assistant coach. "This is why we treat Oxnard College like the world-class training facility that it is. It's great wh
