GIRLS’ SOCCER 1994-1995: SOCCER PREVIEW : A Title Would Make Engesser Feel Like Part of the Family

Kimberly Engesser is following the lead of her older siblings quite nicely at Ocean View.

Christie led the Seahawks to a State cross-country title in 1992 and won a Southern Section track title in the 800 meters in 1993.

Brian, Christie’s twin brother, helped Ocean View to a section title in boys’ soccer in 1992.

Last month, Kimberly decided to attend Portland on a soccer scholarship, meaning that next year she will join Brian (Notre Dame) and Christie (Oregon) as NCAA Division I athletes.

Impressive company, but Kimberly falls short in one area: high school championships won.

“I’m saving up for this year,” she said with a laugh.

Engesser, a three-time, first-team All-Sunset League forward, will certainly be the key for Ocean View this season. The Seahawks have moved to the new Golden West League as the favorites. They also should challenge for the Southern Section Division II title.

Despite the Seahawks’ improved chances, Engesser isn’t especially happy about the move. She has many friends on strong Sunset League teams such as Marina and Huntington Beach and says she will miss the rivalries.

“We are playing them in the preseason, but it’s not going to be the same thing,” Engesser said. “Plus there shouldn’t be that much competition in our new league.”

Ocean View Coach Ron Uehle said Engesser thrives in competitive games. When the Seahawks had to win their final four league games to qualify for the playoffs last season, Engesser led them to victory, scoring at least one goal in each game. She scored all four goals in 2-0 victories over Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.

“She’s a very unselfish player,” Uehle said. “She would probably be happier to pass the ball off and have someone else score than score herself. But she knows when to step her game up.”

Engesser has honed her game playing for her club team--North Huntington Beach, which won the Southern California under-17 title last spring--and with the Olympic Development Program. She made the U.S. under-16 national team last year and last month tried out for the under-20 team.

“She’s been coached by some of the best college coaches around,” Uehle said. “She takes it all in and brings it back to her game.”

But last season, her individual aspirations interfered with the Seahawks’ season. Engesser missed Ocean View’s wild-card playoff game with Glendora St. Lucy’s because she was in Florida trying out for the under-16 national team.

Ocean View lost 1-0 on an own goal with about 15 minutes left in the game. Two days later, St. Lucy’s lost to eventual-finalist Palos Verdes Peninsula in the first round.

“I felt bad leaving the team and missing the playoffs,” Engesser said. “But I looked at it as a good opportunity to try out and there are always a lot of college coaches at these things.”

Uehle said he was made aware of the conflict with about a month to go in the season and agreed with Engesser’s decision.

“I really felt it was a good thing for her,” he said. “Not too many people get the opportunity to get into the national pool. You have to look at it in the long-term sense.”

Uehle hopes some of the payoff comes in the playoffs this season. Engesser scored 25 goals last season, and the Seahawks will again count on her for scoring.

Uehle also depends on Engesser for leadership. “Kim has really opened up in the last year,” Uehle said. “She has a great sense of humor and it’s coming to the surface now. Previously, she was always shy.

“This year she’ll be a senior and one of the captains. I know she will give a lot of vocal leadership.”

With her college decision behind her, Kimberly can concentrate on her final season of high school soccer. Before it started last week, she had 62 goals in her career; she said she would like to finish with 100.

But she doesn’t put any undue pressure on herself. She knows that many defenses will be focused on stopping her.

“I don’t really feel any pressure,” Engesser said. “I just go out there and play and if I don’t score, I don’t score.

“If they are really marking me tightly, then other people will probably be open.”

Girls’ Soccer at a Glance

Other top players: Jillian Bressler, Katella, midfielder, Sr.; Heather Darin, Kennedy, midfielder, Sr.; Karen Dawes, Ocean View, defender, Sr.; Amber Duarte, La Habra, forward, Sr.; Krista Elefson, Sunny Hills, defender, Sr.; Kimberly Engesser, Ocean View, Sr., forward; Kate Erdei, Canyon, defender, Sr.; Jenny Fricke, El Toro, forward, Sr.; Julie Garrison, Corona del Mar, forward, Jr.; Annie Given, Brethren Christian, midfielder, Sr.; Laura Hargrove, Irvine, defender, Sr.; Ali Havriluk, Corona del Mar, midfielder, Sr.; Shauna Itri, Edison, forward, Jr.; Jill Krupoff, University, goalkeeper, Jr.; Kim Lumsdaine, Cypress, goalkeeper, Sr.; Toni Mascarenas, Pacifica, forward, So.; Susan Mendez, Villa Park, forward, Sr.; Beth Merkle, Mission Viejo, midfielder, Sr.; Jill Nelson, Newport Harbor, forward, Jr.; Jayne Nichols, University, midfielder, Sr.; Sumon Nicole, Dana Hills, goalkeeper, Sr.; Ali Ponce, Los Alamitos, defender, Jr.; Melissa Prine, Troy, midfielder, Sr.; Meghan Reppe, Villa Park, forward, Sr.; Nicole Restivo, Laguna Hills, defender, Sr.; Jenny Ryan, Fullerton, forward, Sr.; Theresa Summa, Trabuco Hills, midfielder, Sr.; Jenny Uriate, Dana Hills, midfielder, Sr.; Erin Warren, El Modena, defender, Sr.; Kaylee Whitfield, El Modena, forward, Jr.; Elizabeth Willemse, Los Alamitos, forward, Sr.; Erin Wright, Brea-Olinda, forward, Sr.

League favorites: Century: Canyon; Empire: El Dorado; Freeway: Sunny Hills; Garden Grove: Pacifica; Golden West: Ocean View; Orange: Brea-Olinda; Pacific Coast: Laguna Hills; Sea View: Santa Margarita; South Coast: Mater Dei; Sunset: Marina.

1993 final poll: 1. Marina, 2. Edison, 3. El Modena, 4. Mater Dei, 5. Capistrano Valley, 6. Los Alamitos, 7. Santa Margarita, 8. Sunny Hills, 9. Esperanza, 10. Kennedy.

1994 preseason poll: 1. Marina; 2. Mater Dei; 3. Santa Margarita; 4. Esperanza; 5. Los Alamitos; 6. Edison; 7. El Dorado; 8. Capistrano Valley; 9. Dana Hills; 10. Canyon.

Key dates: El Modena Vanguard Cup, Dec. 8-10; Foothill Excalibur tournament, Dec. 27-29; Ocean View Holiday Classic, Dec. 27-29; Southern Section playoffs begin, Feb. 18; Southern Section finals, March 3-4.

Notes: The shuffling of leagues has made the already strong Sunset the toughest in the county, with four of the top six teams in the preseason coaches’ poll. Only three will make the playoffs. . . . Kennedy, which has moved to the Empire League, probably will see a streak end. The Fighting Irish haven’t lost in 44 league games, all in the Garden Grove League. . . . Deborah Hargrave, who had 28 goals and 16 assists for Fullerton last year, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during the summer and probably will miss her senior season.