AYSO team shooting for England

Four years in, it was time to take the relationship to the next level.

The Costa Mesa Team Spirit 14-and-under soccer team has competed in tournaments throughout Orange County and even ventured slightly further on occasion. Being an AYSO team, not a club team, meant lengthy travel was never discussed.

But the wins piled up and the players got to know each other in detail on the field, establishing a comfort few teams experience. After three years, Coach Andy Lamb decided the team could step up its level of competition and applied to AYSO to be allowed to take the team to the Umbro International Soccer Cup in Manchester, England.

As a result the players, who in four years have only spent the night together in a hotel once, will get to know each other a little better off the field.

“I don’t think it will be weird traveling together,” said stopper Erin Rodman, who has played on the team for four years. “Just being on the plane together will be fun. It will be fun to be in a big group outside of the city.”

The players will go their separate ways, with nearly the entire team either playing for Estancia or Costa Mesa High, after the calendar year when the team disbands. So Lamb started planning for the tournament ? which begins July 25 and will host 450 teams from 25 countries ? in May 2005.

“England, that was the best fit,” said Lamb, who is originally from England. “As a team we have not gone out of Southern California because we are not a club team, we’re AYSO. We [stayed in a hotel] one other time. That’s part of the fun. They get along very well, not just as competitors but as people. That’s what makes them a phenomenal team on the field.”

Costa Mesa took its dedication on the field and focused it on fundraising for a year to make the trip possible. As a result the team, nearly all of which will have family members along with them, will spend two weeks in England touring, playing against the highest level English under-14 teams.

“Playing against teams from other countries, it will be nice to see how they play,” three-year forward Jillian Beck said. “We can learn a lot from them.”

The team will also learn from its opponents off the field, spending time with members of each team it plays.

From Sept. 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006, Team Spirit has only lost four games, the fourth of which was a 2-1 setback in the championship game of a club team tournament. The team has won 28 games in that time, including 18 by shutout. Team members say that time together is a key reason for the success.

“We all get along and know how we play,” Rodman said. “It’s easy to anticipate what each other will do.”

Despite not logging much travel time, the team still feels close.

“We work well together,” four-year player Allyson Wallace said. “Other teams are mean to each other. We are nice to each other.”

Lamb understands how to coach the girls and having a daughter, Shona Lamb, on the team helps.

“He gives you positive feedback instead of criticizing you,” Rodman said. “He yells to you, not at you.”

The task of winning is momentous, and that is why the focus remains on enjoyment.

“As a whole we are balanced,” four-year midfielder Misha Brown said. “We will definitely have fun and maybe win a couple games.”

Jennifer Johnston, a four-year sweeper, planned for the trip in advance.

“I did track last year,” Johnson said. “So hopefully I can keep up with the forwards.”dpt.13-soccer-1-BPhotoInfo351SSQMN20060713j2bpfmncCredit: Caption: (LA)Teagan La Bare pulls out all the stops as the Costa Mesa Team Spirit raises funds for its trip to Manchester, England. dpt.13-soccer-2-BPhotoInfo351SSQ2C20060713j2bpfvncCredit: Caption: (LA)Costa Mesa Team Spirit players Sara Gilbert, Amy Ramirez, Hillary Williams, Shona Lamb, Jennifer Johnston, Gabriella Chavez, Misha Brown, Teagan La Bare, Natalie Seckel, Allyson Wallace, Jillian Beck and Erin Rodman gathered for a barbecue to celebrate the team’s final practice before it departs for England. Not pictured are team members Kendra Fisher and Kiara Mora.