Players to Watch

A look at some of the top girls’ soccer players in the region:

Notre Dame forward Sarah Morgan was last season’s Mission League offensive player of the year and has scored a combined 43 goals the past two seasons. . . . Thousand Oaks returns standout defender Susan Shivokevich and Lauren Mercaldo, who scored 12 goals last season. . . . Agoura, the region’s annual underachiever, returns two All-Marmonte League players in senior midfielder April Blaker and sophomore forward Jennifer Graham, who scored 13 goals a year ago.

Paraclete senior Lisa Ament scored 35 goals last season and was the High Desert player of the year. . . . La Reina is led by senior Aimee Thompson, a midfielder and forward who had 42 goals, 34 assists and was selected All-Southern Section Division IV last season. . . . Adept at either end of the field is Thompson’s teammate, sophomore goalkeeper-forward Sara Leibowitz, who scored 12 goals as a freshman.

Oak Park’s star is junior forward Rebecca Carroll, who has scored 43 goals in her varsity career. . . . Senior Shauna Murray is the go-to player at Quartz Hill after scoring 34 goals last season. . . . Neighboring Littlerock counts on forwards Alisa Garcia and Jessica Ramos, who combined for 32 goals a year ago.

Birmingham opponents had best keep an eye on Brave junior forward Kris Oakes, who scored 37 goals and helped the team to the City Section 3-A Division semifinals last season. . . . Granada Hills’ senior sweeper Amber Dattilo earned All-City Section 4-A Division honors and led the Highlanders to the division title game. . . . Simi Valley returns two juniors to watch in defender Cindy Mallett, the Marmonte League’s 1997 defensive player of the year and All-Southern Section Division I selection, and forward Valorie Annunziata, a third-team divisional pick.

Ventura could unseat Buena for the Channel League title. Defender Courtney Garmon and goalkeeper Kitty Sexton can help the Cougars again post 16 shutouts as they did last season. . . . La Canada senior midfielder Sarah Klang-Glienna leads a team in search of its second consecutive Rio Hondo League title and its third in five years.