GIVE IT THE BOOT—Newbury Park High’s Jordyn Zander, left, sends the ball up the pitch during Monday’s match against Royal. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Monique Pendleberry walked barefoot on the Panther Stadium pitch as if she were strolling along Waikiki on a summer afternoon.

Pendleberry didn’t mind the elements, even if it was a cold winter night in Newbury Park.

The Newbury Park High forward has helped the Panther girls’ soccer team surge to a 5-2-2 overall record and a 2-2-1 mark in the Marmonte League after Monday’s 2-1 home victory against Royal.

NPHS is vying for a league championship in a stacked Marmonte, where most coaches and players consider every team a threat to win on any given night.

“We can definitely win (the Marmonte), especially since we keep getting better and better,” Pendleberry said. “We have the talent. We have the potential. We need to put it away.”

Pendleberry, who scored the decisive penalty kick goal against the Highlanders, led the Panthers with three goals on the season entering Wednesday’s game against Calabasas.

Newbury Park plays host to crosstown rival Thousand Oaks on Friday at 6 p.m.

Head coach Kelly Zieger said Pendleberry is an important cog.

“She’s a very smart player, and she knows the game well,” the fourth-year coach said.

“She’s very talented. She sees the field—she knows where to play the ball and how to receive the ball.”

Senior captain Anna Medler stars in the defensive backfield for Newbury Park.

Zieger said Medler is a great leader, while assistant coach Trevor Tom called the senior a “solid, consistent rock.”

Jordyn Zander, another senior captain and center midfielder, has also starred for the Panthers.

Zieger said Zander is a composed, disciplined player. Tom said the team feeds off the fouryear varsity player’s energy.

The coaches are pleased with Newbury Park’s progress.

“They’re a very talented group of girls,” said Zieger, a history and psychology teacher at NPHS. “They play up to each other’s strengths.”

Even after a long day in the classroom, Zieger always looks forward to practice.

“They’re excited. They’re smiling, and they’re ready to go,” the coach said.

Pendleberry credited much of the team’s success to Tom, a firstyear assistant.

“He points out things we didn’t see,” the junior said of Tom. “His goals for us are very realistic. He sees our potential very well.”

With strength at every position across the pitch—from forwards, to midfielders and defenders— Newbury Park wants to play better under duress.

“We don’t play the smartest soccer under pressure,” Pendleberry said.

Medler agreed with her teammate.

“We need to stay composed the whole game,” Medler said. “But I like how we’re playing together. We encourage each other and we try to stay positive.

“This is a close team. We’re all good friends and we get along.”

Paige Conway, Nikki Campbell and Lyndsey Preston have each scored two goals.

Youngsters Abby Smith, a freshman, and sophomore Delany Mendoza share goalkeeping duties and have had a hand in five shutouts.

Shawna Williams, Juliet Murray, Kelly Mena, Brittany Myers, Jami Murray, Morgan Valenzuela and Lexi Mesko contribute on defense.

Williams, a senior, notched her first goal of the season Monday on a pass from Campbell.

Midfielders include Dakota Craig, Taylor Lam, Shayda Ansari and Angie Hook. Ansari and Hook also play forward with Lindsay Vesling.

Reaching the halfway point of the 14-game Marmonte schedule, the Panthers know much has yet to be decided for league supremacy and the postseason.

Generating more offense could be a key to Newbury Park’s second-half push.

“We need to maintain discipline and stay composed in times of chaos,” Zieger said.

“Every team’s very tough in our league. At any moment, any team can come out on top. No one has come out as the dominant leader. It’s up for anyone.”