Culver City high school girls' soccer battle elements and opponents

High school winter sports bring a whole new outlook to high school sports. Southern California athletes complain about the weather but in other parts of the nation the elements are twice as bad. Playing soccer outside in the winter against outstanding opponents can reach down and touch the soul of an athlete but the Culver high school girl's soccer team continues to play a high level in a very competitive league.

At press time the lady Centaurs were 11-6-2 overall and 2-4 in the Bay league. The league is one of the best in California. First place Palos Verdes is 12-2-1 and 5-1, second place Mira Costa is 12-1-2 and 5-1, third place Redondo Union is 13-2 and 4-2 and the Centaurs are tied for fourth place with Santa Monica who is 9-5-1 and 2-4.

"I am very pleased the way the girls are playing," said head coach Pete Barlett last Friday after their 6-2 loss to Mira Costa. Barlett has been coaching the girls for six years. "Moving into the Bay league three seasons ago and playing Division 1 teams almost every week and we are a Division 3 team, but we are still in the mix. I think we are having a very good season. We want to make the Division 3 CIF playoffs and play teams on our level. We are keeping our fingers crossed."

Barlett is happy with the play of the entire team, but he is really excited about the play and leadership of team captains, Maren Brown and Ella Weil. In the loss to Mira Costa last Friday at home the captains scored the two goals. Both players are seniors with a lot of varsity experience.

Weil had this to say about the loss to Mira Costa. "It was a little bit unfortunate regarding some of the calls that were made but we fought until the end, and we worked hard, and we are learning from our mistakes, and we are getting better. We have a really good squad. Everyone on the team is amazing and our chemistry is really good. We want to keep winning. We want to make the playoffs. As long as we keep our heads up and keep a positive attitude, we will be fine."

Brown talked about her final year as a Centaur after the Mira Costa match. "It feels great. We are really putting up a fight this season. If we win a few more games, we can make it to the CIF playoffs and maybe win a championship. It's been really great working with Ella and all of my teammates and even the under classmen this year are doing great. Everyone is working really hard and it's a great environment to be around."

According to coach Barlett the team is very competitive every time they step onto the field. "The level of play has been incredible all the way across the board. From the goal keepers to our front-line players. We have to believe in the way we are playing. Our level of play right now is very, very high. If we start to change the way we are playing, then that's not our identity anymore. We have to believe in the way we are playing."

The girls' soccer team next three games are Friday at Peninsula at 2:30 p.m., Monday at home against Palos Verdes at 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday at Santa Monica at 3:30 p.m.

The boys' soccer team, although they have a record of 4-9-1, they have kept every game close except for two games. Seven of their losses have been by two points or less. Their next three games are Friday at home against Peninsula at 5 p.m., Monday at Palos Verdes at 3:15 p.m. and Wednesday at home against Santa Monica at 5 p.m.

The boys' basketball team is 14-6 overall and 5-1 in the Bay league. Their 5-1 record puts them in second place. They face Peninsula on Friday at 7 p.m., they travel to St. Monica for a non-league game at 7 p.m. on Monday and they stay on the road to battle Palos Verdes on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and they end the regular season at home against Santa Monica at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 1.

The girls' basketball team is 12-11 and 2-4 in league play. Their next three games are Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Peninsula at home, Tuesday at Palos Verdes at 5:30 p.m. and their last regular season game will be at home on Thursday, February 1, at 5:30 p.m.

The girls water polo team is 12-7 overall and 0-2 in league play. Their final match of the regular season is Thursday at home, January 25, at 3:30 at the Vets Pool on Overland Ave. in Culver City.