Sports
Lady Normans Look to Dethrone Santa Monica
The Beverly Hills High School girls soccer team believes it has what it takes to win the Ocean League title this year.
The Beverly Hills High School girls soccer team has played well in recent seasons, but has yet to emerge from Santa Monica High School's shadow.
"The past few years, it was a lock that Santa Monica would come in first," Normans coach Ryan Franks said. "I do feel we can compete for an Ocean League title. It's really any team's race."
Santa Monica has not lost a league match in more than four years. But the Normans' success and competitiveness against some tough South Bay schools this season has the team believing it can hang with anybody.
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"I think it all starts with our goalkeeper, Ida Trevino," Franks said. "She's a second-year varsity starter and just big time in net. Makes big time saves."
Another top player for Beverly Hills is defender and team captain Nicole Star.
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"I think we've proved ourselves to be in the top running with SaMo this year," Star said. "I think this is a year that we can take the Ocean League. Win it and take it away from SaMo."
The senior said a key to BHHS playing well will be communicating and transitioning offensively and defensively on the field. The Normans plan to rely on possessions and keeping the ball on the ground to defeat their opponents.
"We're kind of a small team…we have to match up physically," Franks said. "Santa Monica is very physical. I want us to be able to play different styles, but for the most part we play a small, on the ground, possession-type game."
One player who will help the Normans be more physical is senior Tylor Fields, who leads the team in scoring so far this season with 11 goals in nine matches.
"[Fields] uses her body incredibly effectively," Franks said, adding that she "uses her shoulder, knocks people off the ball, and she's finishing at a great pace."
Right behind Fields in scoring is Ashley Aviram with seven goals and Star with six. Star is able to score well from the backfield because, as Franks said, "she's got a rocket."
"Nicole just has a tremendous cross and a blast," Franks said. "She's really improved her game this year."
