Local Fusion U14 squad caps big year with PAL title

The Santa Barbara-based team in the Ventura County Fusion program finished 10-0 in the Police Athletic League's summer league.

A Santa Barbara-based under-14 boys soccer team playing for the Ventura County Fusion capped a steller first season by winning the championship of the Police Athletic League Summer League.

Santa Barbara won the title game 3-0 to finish with a perfect 10-0 record.

The team was formed last year by Hugo Ronces, Jaime Gonzales and Mike Sjollema. Their goal was to provide players with club-level competition at a reasonable price.

Fusion team members are Andy Mandrell, Christian Gonzalez, Gio Paredes, Jessie Jimenez, Sean Estabrooks, Asher Johnson, David Sjollema, Hugo Ronces, Jr., Jesus Carrillo, Walter Hernandez, Austen Pearce, Emmanuel Nwosu, Evan Reyes, Pablo Montalvo, Will Parker; summer guest players Peter Ruiz, Luke Willingham, Leo Angel and Mike Hawker. The coaches are Hugo Ronces, Jaime Gonzales and Michael Sjollema.

In its first year together, the club accomplished the following:

  • League champs; advanced to silver level
  • Spring Cup Tournament champions
  • Ventura County Fusion Tournament champions
  • Round 32 of all league levels,  knocking out Silver-level teams and Silver Elite teams
  • Second place in the 64-team State Cup Tournament
Started in 2006, the Ventura County Fusion is a soccer organization based in Ventura that includes a semi-professional men’s team that plays in the Premier Development League.