The Lancer

The Lancer

The Lancer

Celebrities catastrophic effect on the environment
Joseph Goodnight, Opinion Editor • March 27, 2024

With our current understanding of the climate crisis, it’s safe to say that everyone is trying to be more sustainable for the sake of the environment,...

Lancer-to-Los Robles volunteer system stays strong
Lancer-to-Los Robles volunteer system stays strong
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • March 27, 2024

Los Robles Regional Medical Center benefits from the varied talents and experiences that volunteers offer, ranging from high school students...

Time T.O. Vote
Time T.O. Vote
Kailah Spencer, The Lancer Staff • March 27, 2024

Senior Maya Campo turns 18 in April, and she is ready to make her voice heard this November. As the presidential primary election nears, seniors...

Going Digital: The SAT’s New Normal
Going Digital: The SAT’s New Normal
Kailah Spencer, The Lancer Staff • March 27, 2024

Many Lancers students are familiar with the SAT; a paper test with over a hundred questions of varying difficulty. Now, CVUSD is introducing...

Around the Business Table
Around the Business Table
Julia Pineda-Dominguez, The Lancer Staff • March 27, 2024

The Majors program provides students with the opportunity to speak with mentors in many different careers. The program consists of monthly meetings...

Moreno heads to Washington
Moreno heads to Washington
Aandrea Pineda-Dominguez, News Editor • March 27, 2024

It was finally over. The bell gave its shrieking cry and off went hundreds of students to enjoy their freedom, at least for a moment. For...

TO Acorn With Permission
Lancers lose a forever friend
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • March 27, 2024

Bill Gemberling has worn many hats at Thousand Oaks High: student, teacher, coach, sports announcer. But taxi driver? “I was one of (Brett...

Unexpected La Reina closure leads to transfers
Gemma Spraggins, Assistant News Editor • March 27, 2024

escribing how La Reina families felt upon receiving the news that their school, which opened its doors in 1964, will be closing at the end of...

New MegaMind TV and Movie Sequel Release
New MegaMind TV and Movie Sequel Release
Joseph Goodnight, Opinion Editor • February 20, 2024

In March of this year, Dreamworks is set to release a Peacock exclusive TV show and movie sequel to the beloved 2010 MegaMind movie. The trailer...

In Fastbreak Fashion
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • February 14, 2024

Lancers lead the way in the second half. The Great Oak Wolfpack came into Thousand Oaks Tuesday night for the CIF quarterfinals and with them...

Perserving in Penalty’s
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • February 14, 2024

The Lady Lancers traveled to a neutral site in Anaheim to take on the Katella Knights in the second round of the CIF-SS girls soccer playoffs....

Kanye - He's Back at it...or Maybe Not?
Elijah Brown, The Lancer Staff • February 14, 2024

Kanye West's new album “Vultures 1”, many nationwide were skeptical at first about Kanye's new album considering the controversies he has...

It’s Valentine’s, Baby
It’s Valentine’s, Baby
Momo Sonoda, Editor-In-Chief • February 14, 2024

St. Valentine’s Day commemorates the death of St. Valentine, but for others, the holiday marks a day of birth. Junior Chokee Weezer was born...

Health Science Majors Program hosts their senior showcase
Momo Sonoda, Editor-In-Chief • February 12, 2024

Last week, the seniors in Health Science Majors hosted a showcase, featuring various professions that they hope to pursue in the future. At the...

Advancing Again
Jake Bradley, Sports Editor • February 12, 2024

The Lancers left campus during lunch to travel to Temecula for their round two playoff game, and the ride wasn’t enough to stop the Lancers....

Kick It Up a Notch

Kick+It+Up+a+Notch

Due to the unexpected two week thanksgiving break, practice time was slim, forcing girls soccer to find field time in locations off campus.

During this time away from school the team has been able to practice at Acorn Acres, get uniforms and prepare for their first game on Monday Nov. 26 vs Moorpark.

“The time off school definitely did not help us and made practicing more difficult. We ended up using Acorn Acres next to school,” defender Lydia Sheppard said. “We did get less practice meaning we had to take advantage and work during the few hours we got.”

The team is currently facing many other obstacles like having several injured players. In hopes of ounce again making playoffs, the girls are looking to heal quickly and showcase more of their skills in playoffs.

“Last season we made it into playoffs, but unfortunately we got out the first game,” forward Ireland Nowalk said. “It was a great experience and we hope to do it again this year.”

It’s too soon to tell how the team has developed from last year,  but the team is filled with lots of new talent due to the large amount of graduating seniors.

“There are lots of sophomores who will bring talent to the team and there are some juniors who were pulled up from JV last year to help in playoffs that know what to expect,” Nowalk said. “We also have new goalies this year that have come up, so there aren’t really any returning ones.”

In preparation the team has been conditioning in order to stay in better shape so that they can compete with better teams and enhance their chances of making playoffs.

The bond between teammates has been made stronger through playing for the same club teams. Through their previous connections, the players are hoping to communicate and connect passes through the midfield and to the forwards. If the players were not associated through past teams the extensive length of tryouts gave them the opportunity to get more familiar with each other as players.

“Tryouts began with any of the girls who wanted to try and make the varsity team and over the weeks some people got cut,” Sheppard said. “During the tryouts most days we did a full field scrimmage while the coaches watched and decided who would be the best, diverse players for the team this year.”

Coach Clay Cameron starts tryouts early in order to ensure he finds his best team, and by watching the players for a long period of time the team was set. This allowed him to pick his varsity team early and have extra weeks of practice.

Keeping an eye on their goal of getting past the first round of playoffs, players look forward to their tough opponents in order to come out strong.

“Last season I got pulled up from JV to help in some games so I am not as sure about some teams, but I think Westlake is always a big rival,” Nowalk said. “We will need to be ready to come out strong. Also, Newbury Park is always a good battle, so they will be a good challenge as well.”

Thousand Oaks varsity soccer is unaware of what to expect in the upcoming season but they are keeping a positive outlook on their goals.

“We all want to make it far in playoffs, so I think having a similar goal in mind will help us make it,” Nowalk said.

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