Moorpark boys' soccer team struggling to get wins
Musketeers enter tonight's action just 1-10 overall
Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Moorpark High head boys' soccer coach Juan Barron shook up his starting lineup Wednesday night against Calabasas High. Unfortunately for the Musketeers, it still wasn't a winning combination.

Although MHS played stellar defense in the first half, the Musketeers weren't able to hold off the Coyotes' attack in the second half, when CHS scored three goals en route to a 3-1 win.

The loss dropped Moorpark's record to 1-10 overall and 0-4 in the Marmonte League.

"I lost a lot of seniors from last year," Barron said. "Lack of experience is a big factor with this team. Last year I knew everybody on the team and their strengths like the back of my hand.

"This year, we have a lot of new players that I'm trying to make into something they aren't right now. There is, however, a lot of potential."

With Moorpark's regular goalkeeper, senior Kurt Johnston, not able to play against CHS because of an illness, Barron decided to move sophomore Nicholas Yasmine from the field into the cage.

Yasmine, who plays goalkeeper on his club team, played well in the first half by holding the Coyotes scoreless. The second half was a different story, however, as Calabasas freshman Nathaniel Schnitman scored in the 42nd minute to put the Coyotes up 1-0.

With Moorpark struggling to find ways to score, Barron decided with 10 minutes left in regulation to put Yasmine back in the field, while inserting senior Osvaldo Arambula in the cage.

Arambula couldn't stop the CHS attack either, as senior Daniel Steres and junior Harrison Doyle scored backtoback goals moments after the switch.

"Yasmine had pretty big shoes to fill today in the net, and I thought he did a pretty good job," Barron said. "We had no offense at the time, so I decided to put him back on the field to try and spark something offensively. Obviously, it backfired on me."

Moorpark senior co-captain Michael Tapia scored on a penalty kick with two minutes remaining in regulation to close the gap to 3-1, but it was too little, too late for the Musketeers.

"All I could think of when I shot the penalty kick was, 'just don't miss,'" Tapia said. "It was bad enough that we were losing; I wanted us to get at least one goal.

"It's frustrating playing on this team right now. We have a lot of young players that are improving, but I'd like to make the playoffs at least one of the years I was at Moorpark."

Barron said he's been very impressed with the performance of Tapia this season.

"This year I talked with my seniors and asked them how much they wanted to win," Barron said.

"This is their senior year; it's their last chance to do anything at Moorpark. Tapia definitely wants to win every game. He's a very offensive-minded player. The other day he hit a 30-foot shot for a goal."

Senior cocaptain Michael Palma said this season has been tough, but he hasn't given up.

"Coach Barron tells us every day to never give up and to not hang our heads," Palma said. "The seniors need to keep their heads up because we set the example for everyone else on the team."

Other seniors Barron hopes can contribute more as the year progresses are Chris Morrow and Justin Gomez.

"Early in the season, (Gomez) scored a few goals, and it looked like he might be a huge offensive factor for us," Barron said. "Lately, he's been a little quiet on the offensive side of the ball. He needs to do a better job of capitalizing on offensive opportunities."

Underclassmen that are already seeing significant amounts of playing time include sophomores Sean Mckenna and Yasmine, junior Mario Valladares and freshman Akrom Aljabri.

Although Moorpark is struggling, Barron hasn't lost hope for a better performance in the second half of the year.

"I haven't given up yet, and I'm hoping we can turn things around," Barron said. "This is a tough league we play in, and hopefully we can win some games while everyone else in league beats up on each other."

Moorpark will try to get back into the win column tonight when they travel to Agoura High to face the Chargers. Game time is set for 6 p.m.