Schmidt Keeps His Tean in Turnaround Mode

Casey Schmidt is apparently worth waiting for.

Schmidt, who missed the past two boys’ high school soccer seasons because of injuries, scored the winning goal in the final minute and Newbury Park beat Agoura, 2-1, in a Marmonte League game Friday at Agoura.

Newbury Park, which finished next to last in Marmonte play last season, improved to 6-2 overall, 2-0 in the league.

“He’s the key to our attack,” Panther Coach Guy Sanford said of Schmidt, a junior who missed his freshman and sophomore seasons because of back and hip injuries. “He’s a leader on the team and he makes my job a lot easier.”

Schmidt, who has been invited to play for the U.S. Soccer Federation’s national team, took a pass from Paul Bell and scored the game-winner from outside the penalty box.

Goalkeeper Geoffrey Raives led Newbury Park defensively with seven saves.

In other boys’ soccer games:

Thousand Oaks 4, Westlake 1--Danny Ermolovich scored one goal and assisted on another and goalkeeper Brandon Buschold made five saves for the Lancers in a Marmonte League game at Thousand Oaks.

Ermolovich scored Thousand Oaks’ last goal in the 76th minute. In the 56th minute he crossed to Jeremy Terrell, who converted to give the Lancers (5-1-3, 2-0) a 2-0 lead.

Adam Becerra broke a scoreless tie with Thousand Oaks’ first goal, in the 45th minute, and the Lancers took a 3-0 lead before Mike Moll scored Westlake’s only goal.

Royal 1, Moorpark 0--Robert O’Rell scored on a cross from Adin Waldrep in the 72nd minute for the Highlanders in a Marmonte League game at Royal.

The Highlanders (1-4-1, 1-0) won despite missing six starters--three for team rules violations and three because of injury or illness--and managing just four shots on goal.

Simi Valley 1, Muir 0--Mark Zerhusen scored the winning goal in the 48th minute and the Pioneers won a nonleague game at Simi Valley.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Buena 4, Rio Mesa 0--Sophomore Natalie Sanderson scored the first three goals of the game for the second-ranked Bulldogs (6-0-1) in a nonleague game at Buena.

Sanderson has eight goals this season. J.J. Toohey had the other score for Buena, which has won four in a row.

Goalkeepers Currie Hunt and Heidi Guzman combined for four saves in the Bulldogs’ fifth shutout.

Crescenta Valley 2, Canyon 0--Julie Herrold scored one goal and assisted on another for the Falcons (5-1-1) in a nonleague victory over Canyon (6-2) at Crescenta Valley.

Herrold converted from 20 yards in the 30th minute and passed to Rebecca Hidalgo for the other score in the 75th minute.

Royal 7, Moorpark 0--Jamie Cameron scored her first three goals of the season and Royal won a Marmonte League game at Moorpark.

The Highlanders (4-3-1, 1-0) controlled the game throughout, outshooting Moorpark, 25-6, and had 10 corner kicks.

Katy Flood scored her third and fourth goals for Royal, and Caroline Jacobsen moved from goalkeeper in the first half to forward, where she notched her first goal.

Agoura 3, Newbury Park 0--Jennifer Graham, Julie Stewart and Ayemi Sein each scored for the Chargers in a Marmonte League game at Newbury Park.

Senior Shaughnessy O’Corrigan and sophomore Robin Dowds combined on the second shutout for Agoura (3-1-2, 1-0-1).

Westlake 2, Thousand Oaks 0--Christina Von Krog scored both goals for the Warriors (4-0), in the sixth and 20th minutes, in a Marmonte League match at Westlake.