V.C. Fusion finding success during inaugural campaign
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

They may be a first-year team in the United Soccer League's Premier Development League, but the Ventura County Fusion franchise is playing like it's been around for years.

The Fusion, who are the only professional team in Ventura County, are currently in fourth place in the Southwest Division, with a record of 7-3-1, and have yet to lose a game at home, where they are 5-0.

General manager Ranbir Shergill said he's not surprised with the team's success.

"What we planned from the outset is what we've achieved," Shergill said. "The only thing I've been surprised at is that there wasn't a team here before. It's been a great community, and the fans have really supported us."

About 18 months ago Shergill founded the Fusion and in the process became the youngest general manager in professional sports at age 26. Soon after, a series of tryouts took place consisting of more than 250 players competing for 25 roster spots.

"We've been successful this year because of the people we have working on the field and off," Shergill said.

"Guys like Steve Hoffman, Rudy Ybarra, Ross Greaney and John Daykin have been a tremendous help. Put that together with a team that's been winning, and everything has worked out how we've wanted it to."

The team now consists of seven players from either UC Santa Barbara or UCLA, the two teams that competed in the 2006 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship game. Eric Avila, who scored one of the two goals for UCSB in the title game, is on the Fusion roster.

"This area is a real hotbed for great soccer players," Shergill said. "There is a lot of quality talent from this area, and the community does a great job rallying around this team."

Joining Avila on the roster are four ex-Thousand Oaks High players: Dylan Riley, Chance Myers, Jason Leopoldo and Diego Barrera. Barrera's brother, Daniel, is on the roster and attends TOHS.

"This year has been so much fun," Riley said. "It's been like a high school reunion playing with some of these guys again."

Myers echoed Riley's statement.

"I never would have thought two years ago that a bunch of us would be playing on the same team," Myers said. "I think that's one reason why we have been good this year is we are all so used to playing with each other."

Head coach Graham Smith said he's been pleased with his team, adding that many of his players have the potential to play on a major league soccer team or elsewhere around the globe.

"I know that a lot of our players are capable of being the future stars of tomorrow, but the real acid test is whether they can maintain that talent on a consistent basis," Smith said.

"It would be nice to win trophies here, but our main aim is to provide attractive open soccer and give our boys the opportunity to move to a higher level."

The team was supposed to play its home games at Ventura College, but moved to Buena High because of stadium seating issues, Shergill said.

The Fusion's next home game is Sunday at Buena High against the San Francisco Seals. Game time is set for 2 p.m.