Reseda Trio Is Getting Its Kicks Playing for Small-Town Power
Moving from the San Fernando Valley to Sedalia, Mo., a small town about an hour from Kansas City, would be a tough move for just about anyone.
But three recent graduates from Reseda High are quickly adjusting to the change.
Playing on the No. 6-ranked junior college soccer team in the nation makes the move a bit easier.
Freshmen Carlos Morales, Oscar Sims and Kenny Zepeda are playing key roles for State Fair College, the national champion last year.
“It’s definitely not like L.A.,” Morales said. “There’s not much to do around here. You just stay at home on the weekends. If you want to do something, you have to go to Kansas City. But I’m getting used to it.”
Morales, The Times’ regional player of the year last season, has 11 assists in 11 games this year. He said he has yet to confront an opponent that can contain him.
“I’m dominating,” said Morales, a member of the under-18 U.S. national team. “I’m catching a rhythm that’s unstoppable right now.
“Soccer is a lot different here. The midwest style is very physical. I like it more.”
Morales said he has received recruiting interest from UCLA, Indiana, Duke, Connecticut, Maryland and Saint Louis, all ranked in the national top 10.
Morales said he plans to turn pro next year, ideally returning home to play for the Galaxy.
“I’m not really interested in those [college] offers,” he said. “I’d really like to go pro.”
Sims, a Times’ all-region selection last year, is the leading scorer for State Fair with seven goals and five assists, including a two-goal effort against Florissant, a game which Morales had three assists.
Zepeda has two assists this season.
Joining the Reseda trio on State Fair is former Agoura High standout Ron Zavlodaver, who has two goals and six assists.
All four players are on full scholarships. As a member of the National Junior College Assn. of Athletics, State Fair is permitted to award athletic scholarships.
California junior colleges, which are not members of the NJCAA, do not give athletic scholarships.
“They are great to have,” Coach Rick Carpenter of State Fair said. “I’m going to go out [to the San Fernando Valley] and get more [players].
“The guys [from the Valley] are going to help me.”
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Michelle George (Chatsworth High) is off to a strong start in her senior season at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
George has three goals and three assists playing midfielder for the Mustangs (5-4).
A Times’ all-region selection in 1996, George scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over Pepperdine, earning Big West Conference player of the week honors in late August. She had a goal in a 7-2 victory over Tulsa. . . .
Former Notre Dame standout Melissa Rubey, a sophomore at Texas, has started five games this season for the Longhorns (5-3).
Rubey, a Times’ second-team all-region selection in 1998, has two assists, one in a 1-0 victory over Arkansas and another in a 2-0 victory over Oklahoma State.
