One Hurdle Remains for Abbamonto

Capistrano Valley’s Kim Abbamonto knows how to win. She has been doing it all her life and she does it well. When she steps onto the soccer field, her opponents had better know of her success and keep her in their sights.

“The biggest thing about her is that she has won on every team she has ever played for,” said Mission Viejo Coach George Larsen. “She knows how to win. She can play the game with her eyes closed. She has been in every possible situation on the field and she is going to know how to respond to different experiences.”

The senior center/midfielder started playing soccer in Mission Viejo when she was 5 years old.

She joined the Mission Viejo Shamrocks club soccer team when she was 9. In eight years, her team won five titles.

The Shamrocks disbanded at the end of last season when everyone on the team, except Abbamonto, graduated. Abbamonto moved to the 19-and-under So Cal Blues squad.

They won everything--the league title, the league championship and most recently the Surf Cup.

But there is one accomplishment absent from Abbamonto’s resume. She has yet to lead the Capistrano Valley Cougars to a Southern Section title.

They did win the South Coast League title last year and have improved every year since Abbamonto was a freshman. And they should have won it all last year. But the second-seeded Cougars were upset by Edison, 2-0, in the second round.

“I thought we should have won,” said Abbamonto, 17. “Everyone was scared when we played Edison. If we all had played together we would have won.”

“We talked a lot about what went on last year,” said first-year Cougar Coach Jack Peterson. “Our focus this year is to go absolutely one game at a time. I know it’s a cliche, but when you start believing the hype, that you should beat anybody, that’s when trouble sets in. Last season they looked at the big picture and they expected to go out and beat everybody.”

Again Capistrano Valley is expected to win it all. And it’s Abbamonto’s last chance to add that achievement before she moves on to USC next year. She has orally committed to the Trojans, picking them over UCLA.

“I’ve always liked USC,” Abbamonto said. “And there are three players from the Shamrocks there now: Megan Orach, Susie Mora and Ami Aylor. So it’s going to be a really good team.”

Named second-team All-County and All-Southern Section her sophomore year and first-team on both her junior year, Abbamonto is the dominant force behind the Cougars’ title run.

“She is a very powerful person. She is definitely a presence on the field,” Peterson said. “I think her biggest attribute is she is such a strong presence. She has an incredible read of games. She is the backbone of the defense and she pushes up the offense. She is definitely one of the best players in the county and has been for awhile.”

Her height--5 feet 9--adds to her formidable presence on the field.

“She is so big and strong, she is going to win everything in the air,” Larsen said. “She is incredible on corner icks.”

Not one to boast, Abbamonto thinks her passing is her strength. And Peterson agrees.

“‘Her distribution of the ball is almost flawless and that is what makes her a leader,” Peterson said. “The way Kim goes, is the way the team goes.”

And the Cougars hope Abbamonto goes all the way to the top.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Capistrano Valley: Favored to win Division I title.

2. Mission Viejo: If healthy, will battle the Cougars.

3. Santa Margarita: Seeks second consecutive Div. II title.

4. Esperanza: Hoping for first Sunset title since 1992.

5. Edison: Also in race for Sunset League title.

6. Woodbridge: Hoping to knock off Santa Margarita.

7. Los Alamitos: Looking for third consecutive Div. I title.

8. Mater Dei: Young but strong in tough South Coast.

9. El Toro: 10 returning starters fight for Sea View.

10. El Modena: Hoping to avenge loss in Div. III final.

GIRLS SOCCER

Players to Watch

* Kim Abbamonto, Capistrano Valley, MF, Sr.

* Michelle Bannister, Canyon, MF, Sr.

* Jennifer Branam, El Dorado, GK, Jr.

* Alison Fennell, Mater Dei, MF, Jr.

* Trisha Forni, Marina, GK, Sr.

* Sarah Henderson, Santa Margarita, F, Jr.

* Stacy Jarne, Esperanza, F, Sr.

* Kate MacDonald, Irvine, D, Jr.

* Katie Ogden, Woodbridge, F, Sr.

* Lauren Orlandos, El Toro, D, Jr.

* Kaley Pickett, University, F, Jr.

* Heidi Prestegard, Edison, F, Sr.

* Brittany Savelkoul, Los Alamitos, F, Sr.

* Megan Schlegal, Trabuco Hills, F, Sr.

* Amber Skallerud, Mission Viejo, F, Sr.

* Aurelin Weidner, Capistrano Valley, D, Sr.

* Jenny Willemse, Los Alamitos, GK, Sr.

League Favorites

Century: El Modena; Empire: El Dorado; Freeway: Sonora; Garden Grove: Pacifica; Golden West: Rosary; Olympic: Ontario Christian; Orange: Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast: University; Sea View: Santa Margarita; South Coast: Capistrano Valley; Sunset: Esperanza.

Key Dates

Dec. 13, Irvine tournament, Whittier La Serna tournament; Dec. 29-31, Excalibur tournament; Feb. 18, 21, 24, 26, Southern Section playoffs; Mar. 5, 7, Southern Section playoff finals.

1996-97 Final Poll

1. Capistrano Valley; 2. Santa Margarita; 3. Los Alamitos; 4. Mission Viejo; 5. Mater Dei; 6. Laguna Hills; 7. Esperanza; 8. Edison; 9. Brea Olinda; 10. Dana Hills.

Notes

The majority of the county’s top teams will come from the South Coast, Sea View and Sunset leagues. The South Coast dominates the top spots. Capistrano Valley and Mission Viejo lead the way, with Mater Dei and Dana Hills close behind. The Cougars, upset by Edison in the second round last year, return eight starters and 13 lettermen--three of them all-county selections: senior Kim Abbamonto (first-team), sophomore Haleigh Roach (third team) and junior Chandra King (third-team). Mission Viejo also returns an impressive lineup, with nine starters and 15 lettermen. Two third-team all-county selections return: seniors Sarah Higham and Jen Mescher. Amber Skallerud, a first-team all-county pick in 1996, who missed last season because of an injury, is back. Esperanza, Edison and Los Alamitos will be in a dog fight for Sunset league title. Esperanza is strong in the midfield with seniors Shannon Moore and Caity Murphy. Los Alamitos has a dominating defense with Jenny Willemse in the goal and senior Carrie Hawkins and junior Susan Palmer defending. Senior Heidi Prestegard, Edison’s leading scorer last year, returns to lead last year’s semifinalist team that has nine starters back. Santa Margarita, Woodbridge and El Toro are the class of the Sea View League. Santa Margarita will be without sophomore sensation Casey Hamel, who left high school soccer to concentrate on her club team. El Toro returns 10 starters to a team that finished second in league and is backed by junior defender Lauren Orlandos. Woodbridge is led by senior forward Katie Ogden.