THE TIMES’ ALL--COUNTY TEAMS : Her Good Sense Pays Off for Diablos : Sophomore Foudy Has the Instincts of a Soccer Veteran

Almost anyone who watches midfielder Julie Foudy play soccer for a while will soon agree that instinct is what sets her apart.

She dribbles, traps and passes as well--if not better--than anyone around. But beyond that, she seems to know what to do with the ball, when and where her teammates are, where they’re going, and just what plans the defenders might be laying.

Her soccer instincts are such, in fact, that although she is only a 16-year-old sophomore, she already has helped take Mission Viejo High School to the Southern Section 4-A championship twice. Last season, Mission Viejo tied with Edison for the title. This season, the Diablos took it for themselves, with a 27-0-1 record.

For her efforts this season, Foudy has been named The Times’ girls’ soccer Player of the Year. She scored 22 goals and had almost as many assists (19) and was named the South Coast League most valuable player and the Southern Section 4-A offensive player of the year.

Foudy’s instincts for soccer, though, have a rival. She also has an instinct for pranks.

When Mission Viejo won the Ocean View tournament in December, defeating Torrance in what turned out to be a preview of the Southern Section 4-A final, Foudy was the one to launch a Gatorade dump on Hiram deFries, Mission Viejo coach.

And on the practice field, deFries said, nobody’s uniform is safe when Foudy is around.

“She is very mischievous,” deFries said. “She’s always angling to do something, always trying to stir up a hornets’ nest or entice her teammates into doing something off the wall.”

Foudy’s stunts are never the stunts of a troublemaker, though, but those of someone with a keen feeling for her team’s attitude.

“She has an uncanny sense in that kind of thing,” deFries said. “She senses when the team is uptight and it’s maybe time to loosen up a little. And she has ability to laugh at herself as well as others.”

Said Foudy: “Sometimes you just have to say, ‘Mellow out, you guys.’ Like in the (Southern Section 4-A final), everyone was getting upset, so when the ball goes out, you just have to say something to get everyone to loosen up.”

But back to the instincts that have played a larger part in the Diablos’ success.

“She just knows what to do,” deFries said. “She has such a sense. She hits the open player on offense, and when it’s time to play defense, she’s going to be playing defense.”

Despite her considerable skills and the knowledge that she would score more often if moved in front to play forward, both Foudy and deFries are content for her to remain at midfield.

The way deFries sees it, Foudy gets more involved in the middle.

“The object is to control the ball, and a player like Julie Foudy gives you the ability to control it,” deFries said. “Our defenders don’t worry about just clearing the ball, they can look for her to start the offense. She has that ability to control a pass and hit the open player, to start our transition game.

“If there’s only one person open, she’ll hit them.”

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS’ SOCCER TEAM LYNN LAMBERT, GOALIE, LAGUNA HILLS, JUNIOR She recorded 23 shutouts for the 21-1-4 Hawks, allowing only five goals all season--only two before the Hawks’ only loss of the season, a 3-0 defeat to eventual runner-up Alemany in a Southern Section 3-A quarterfinal.

KRISTIN HARKINS, FORWARD,LA QUINTA,SENIOR After concentrating on track for much of her career, turned her best efforts toward soccer this season and set an Orange County career scoring record by finishing with 136 goals, 35 this season.

KERRI KENNEDY, FORWARD, MISSION VIEJO, JUNIOR

Only 5-feet 3-inches tall, but served as the offensive speedster for the Southern Section 4-A champion Diablos, who frequently used her as a decoy. Scored 14 goals and had five assists.

WENDY KOJIMA, FORWARD, FOUNTAIN VALLEY, SENIOR

Quick, agile and aggressive, coaches say. Scored 26 goals, shifting between center-forward and left wing. Sunset League Most Valuable Player. Led the Barons to a Southern Section 4-A quarterfinal.

JULIE FOUDY, MIDFIELDER, MISSION VIEJO, SOPH.

Her playmaking and skills, along with her defense, led the Diablos to an undefeated season and the Southern Section 4-A championship. Had almost as many assists (19) as goals (22). Southern Section 4-A Offensive Player of the Year and South Coast League Most Valuable Player.

JILL HENDRY, MIDFIELDER, SUNNY HILLS, SENIOR Scored 27 goals and had 14 assists as a midfielder and sometime forward. Only player in any sport in school history to be named All-Southern Section all four years of high school.

MITCH NADON, MIDFIELDER, EDISON, SENIOR

Had nine goals and 11 assists for the Chargers, who lost to eventual 4-A champion Mission Viejo in a Southern Section 4-A semifinal, finishing 18-4-4 this season after sharing the 4-A title with Mission Viejo in 1986.

MICHELLE BURNS, NEWPORT HARBOR, SENIOR

Opposing coaches cited this defender as one they least liked to meet. Shared Sea View League Msot Valuable Player award with second-team All-County defender Julie Pitchess of University.

ERIN DUNTEMAN, MISSION VIEJO, SENIOR

A consistently excellent defender for the Diablos who nevertheless scored had eight assists and scored six goals--three of them game-winners.

HEATHER McINTYRE, LAGUNA HILLS, JUNIOR

Orange County’s second-best player. As a sweeper and midfielder, teamed with Lambert to form the best defense in Orange County. Scored 12 goals. Southern Section 3-A Defensive Player of the Year.

ABBY OSMUNDSON, SONORA, JUNIOR

At 5-feet 11-inches, opposing coaches say she was rarely beaten in the air. Voted the Freeway League’s Most Valuable Player by league coaches.

SECOND TEAM

Goalie: Julie Hembree, Mission Viejo, Sr. Forwards: Kristy DeMont, Kennedy, Jr.; Erin McGinnis, Laguna Hills, Sr.; Kameron Sweeney, Valencia, Sr. Midfielders: Sarah Stoney, Capistrano Valley, Soph.; Suzy Triplett, Los Alamitos, Sr.; Tammy Van OpDorp, Mission Viejo, Jr. Defenders: Susan Hower, Mater Dei, Sr.; Julie Pitchess, University, Sr.; Jennifer Prchal, La Quinta, Sr.; Donna Robertson, Edison, Sr.