The Ventura County Fusion barely made the playoffs last season but still won a national championship.

This year, the soccer squad won its first-ever division title. Its reward: A road game in Washington to open the postseason.

Nobody said defending a title was easy.

The Fusion, who clinched the Southwest Division crown in the team’s fourth year of existence, will open the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League Western Conference finals Saturday at 5 p.m. against the Kitsap Pumas at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.

Ventura County likes its chances.

“I feel like our team chemistry is reaching its height,” said forward Danny Barrera, a former Westlake High standout who stars at UC Santa Barbara. “We’re peaking right now.”

The Fusion finished the regular season 11-4-1, good for 34 points. The squad, which edged second-place Hollywood United Hitmen (10-3-3 overall, 33 points), also held its own in an exhibition against former English Premier League member Portsmouth FC.

Stingy defense and a sharethe wealth offense carried the Fusion this season. Ventura County recorded seven shutouts, the most in franchise history.

“At the end of the day, the cliché is that defense wins titles and championships,” said firstyear head coach Ole Mikkelsen.

“I think we’ve always been strong defensively every season. Defensively, we’ve been able to lock down opponents and, when we needed to, get a goal or two.”

Before taking over this season, Mikkelsen was an assistant coach for two years.

Mikkelsen has enjoyed leading the Fusion on the pitch and into the victory column. The Fusion use one- and two-touch soccer, where aggressiveness and ball protection are valued.

“Everyone enjoys being successful,” the head coach said. “I think I’ve learned in my later years: You have to enjoy your wins. Savor each win. I’m learn- ing to do that. I’m very proud of the team for winning a division title. It is a team effort.”

Barrera has been on a tear for the Fusion.

The Gaucho, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, has six goals and seven assists in a mere 10 games this season.

He notched five goals, accumulated a team-high nine assists and was named the Big West Conference Midfielder of the Year as a sophomore at UCSB in 2009.

“I’m keeping that confidence going,” Barrera, 20, said. “Guys are giving me chances, and hopefully I can score right now.”

His brother Diego, 23, a Thousand Oaks High graduate, is also a forward with the Fusion who is currently in Germany trying to land a spot on a pro team.

Former Lancer Dylan Riley, who graduated from Cal State Northridge in the spring, is an integral part of the Fusion’s defensive backfield. He has played with the Fusion all four years.

“Our depth is the biggest reason for our success,” Riley said of the defense. “We know we’re going to score goals. As long as we can keep a shutout, we know we have a good chance of winning.”