Valley United Proves Importance of Sticking Together
It’s rare for a club soccer team to stay together more than a few years. Politics and lack of team chemistry usually lead to a break-up.
The Valley United Stars girls’ soccer team is an exception.
Since the summer of 1994, the Stars have held together to become the most successful club soccer team in Southern California.
The Stars are made up of top players from the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, Ventura County and surrounding areas. In the last seven years, they are 402-46-35 and have outscored opponents, 1,381-240, with 309 shutouts.
“For me this has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and it has made me the person I am today,” said Jenny Farenbaugh, a midfielder for Louisville High. “The success we’ve achieved as a team is something that will leave a lasting impression on girls’ soccer in Southern California.”
The Stars have won national championships in 1996 and ‘98, three state championships and 57 tournament and league titles.
The success has carried over to high school soccer, where team members play on some of the region’s top teams.
“It’s fun to open the paper and every day see my teammates’ names,” said Jenna Fodor, a midfielder for Chatsworth. “They all have a lot of heart and desire.”
Other Stars include Lerin Mundell, Ashleigh Garmon and Megan Boys of Buena; Moe Redlin of Chatsworth; Dee Dee Sanguinetti, Ali Pavoni and Kristin Deckers of Hart; April Millado of Louisville; Jill Oakes of Harvard-Westlake; Erin Fitzpatrick of Calabasas; Jaime Rendich of Canyon; Chelsea Welch of Burroughs and Lindsey Weening of Chaminade.
Mundell and Boys anchor a Buena defense that earned the Bulldogs a No. 1 ranking in Southern California from Fox Sports earlier this season. Garmon is Buena’s second-leading goal scorer.
Fodor, who has 20 goals and 26 assists, is Chatsworth’s top player. Redlin ranks second with 17 goals and 14 assists.
Complemented by Deckers, Sanguinetti is arguably the top defender in the region. Pavoni leads the Foothill League in goals and total points.
Welch, despite playing in only seven games this season because of a torn knee ligament, finished her career at Burroughs with 591 saves, placing her in the top three in the Southern Section and top five in the state.
Farenbaugh leads the Mission League with 26 goals and 15 assists. Millado was recently invited to a try out for the under-17 national team.
Oakes leads Harvard-Westlake with 14 goals and 16 assists.
Fitzpatrick is a former Frontier League defensive most valuable player. Rendich has 17 goals and 17 assists. Weening has missed most of the season because of a leg injury.
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Valencia can clinch its first Foothill League title with a victory over last-place Burbank on Thursday.
Valencia, which has 19 points, benefited from Hart’s 2-1 victory over Canyon on Friday. Hart is in second place with 18 points, with Canyon in third with 17.
“We have been successful in a very competitive league and I sincerely feel sorry for the players on the Hart team because they have very good players,” said Valencia Coach Tony Scalercio. “However, the way things unfolded we earned every win as a team and deserve to be champions.”
Canyon needs a victory or a tie Thursday against Saugus to qualify for playoffs. The Cowboys are two points ahead of Saugus.
“Based on the talent they have, it would be a shame if Canyon did not make the playoffs,” Scalercio said.
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El Camino Real’s 2-1 victory over Chatsworth on Monday earned the Conquistadores their first West Valley League title, snapping the Chancellors’ 12-year reign.
If El Camino Real receives the top seed in the City Section playoffs, it most likely wouldn’t face Chatsworth or always-competitive San Pedro until the final.
“We are really excited and proud that we finally reached our goal,” said Mimi Shvartz of El Camino Real. “This puts us in a really good place for the playoffs. We are on the right track for the City title.”
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Sanguinetti, who previously committed to Fresno State, has decided to play at Long Beach State to follow the coach who recruited her.
Mundell, who also previously committed to Fresno State, will take a recruiting trip to Long Beach this weekend.
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The Top 10
Rankings of girls’ soccer teams from the region
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RK LW School (League) Rec. 1 1 Buena (Channel) 22-1-2 2 5 Chaminade (Mission) 16-4-2 3 2 Westlake (Marmonte) 13-0-4 4 3 Harvard-Westlake (Mission) 13-2-4 5 4 Hart (Foothill) 11-5-5 6 7 Valencia (Foothill) 18-3-2 7 8 El Camino Real (West Vly) 15-1-2 8 6 Canyon (Foothill) 17-2-5 9 9 Quartz Hill (Golden) 16-2-1 10 NR Thousand Oaks (Marmonte) 11-5-3
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Records through Monday
