Women’s soccer: Alternative soccer league includes dozen locals

Steve Virgen

REDONDO BEACH - The Orange Coast College Pirates were one game away

from the community college women’s soccer state championships last year

and, now, during the offseason, they are preparing to build on a

record-setting season. Two of the Pirates are opting to refine their

skills in the Ultimate Soccer League, which held its championship game at

OCC last year. That’s how sophomores Lauren Cassity and Jaycee Mahler

became interested in the fast-paced, high-scoring league.

Cassity and Mahler are among 12 local players who are in the four-team

league, which begins play July 6 in Redondo Beach.

The Dallas Sand Storm features Mahler, Cassity, as well as Vanguard

University’s Nicole Avila, Bryanna Gonzalez and Jennifer Shaver.

Costa Mesa residents Annette Parry and Marla Nelson are on the New

York Star Gazers, while Newport Beach resident Nicole Bucciarelli plays

for the Los Angeles Roxies.

The Miami Wave Breakers include former Corona del Mar High standouts,

twin sisters Britta and Margit Vogele, along with former OCC player

Cristina Guerin and Costa Mesa resident Dannielle Killilea.

On July 6, the Sand Storm will face the Wave Breakers, which means

Mahler, who also played for CdM, will have to square off against former

prep teammates Britta and Margit Vogele, both of whom are now playing at

the University of Iowa.

Britta Vogele was the starting goalkeeper for the 8-10-1 Hawkeyes last

season, posting 110 saves, including a conference-leading 80 during Big

Ten play.

“I said, ‘Uh, oh,’ ” Mahler said of her reaction to playing against

the Vogele sisters. “I played with them for six or seven years. I don’t

do so well against people I really know. But, we’ll see what happens.”

If last season at OCC was any indication, Mahler could put up points

galore in the Ultimate Soccer League. Mahler, attempting to regain her

academic eligibility for the fall by attending summer school, broke the

school single-season scoring record with 33 goals. That mark easily

surpassed the previous standard of 24, set by Newport Harbor High product

Taylor Yurada.

Mahler’s performance helped lead the Pirates to the Southern

California Regional final, where they lost to Cypress College, 2-0, Nov.

20. OCC finished 20-5-1, tying the school single-season record for wins

set by the 1988 squad, which advanced to the state championship game.

Mahler will keep busy this summer and play in five leagues, including

the Ultimate Soccer League, which has a three-game schedule, as well as

an All-Star game.

The Ultimate Soccer League awards three points for each goal and

features an extra-point attempt. The goalie from the team that scores

attempts to kick the ball through uprights, which extendfrom each goal

post, from the midfield line.

There are no offsides and there are eight players per team on the

field.

The rules should challenge Cassity, whose sound defense aided the

Pirates last year.

“(The Ultimate Soccer League) seems interesting to me,” Cassity said.

“I want to see how I can compare to the (NCAA Division I players, who

come home for the summer). Even though it’s a different game with a fast

pace, I think I’ll still be able to see how I measure up with those type

of players.”

The Ultimate Soccer League’s season ends with an All-Star game, July

27 at 7 p.m. at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village. For

information: (310) 406-0754.