Mazura bolsters Bears’ D

next level Alivia MazuraFormer Corona del Mar All-Pacific Coast League forward has shifted to other end of the field for the Cal soccer team.Alivia Mazura used one word to describe her team’s performance this year -- amazing.

The former Corona del Mar High standout is a starting defender on the University of California women’s soccer team, ranked No. 9 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. The Bears had their best season since 1993.

After Mazura graduated from Corona del Mar in 2002, she went to Berkeley to join a soccer team that had made its fifth consecutive postseason tournament trip. But her first year with the Golden Bears was probably not what she envisioned.

In her freshman season, the Bears struggled to 7-8-4 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998. In addition to a disappointing season, she had to a learn a new position, moving from forward to defender.

Neither factor deterred the former Sea Kings player.

“I love it [playing defense] now,” Mazura said. “I can’t imagine going up to try to score again.”

“I used to always look forward to the scoring drills we would do before games and in practice,” Mazura said. “Now I look back at that and find it funny.”

Mazura made her debut as a defender for the Golden Bears at the end of the 2002 season, and wasn’t thrilled with the change.

The following spring, Coach Kevin Boyd kept her at defender, and she quickly picked up the new position.

This season, Mazura is part of a defense that is fourth in the nation in goals against average.

“The four fullbacks, we’re like a close-knit family,” Mazura said. “We take a lot of pride in our play.”

As the defense has improved, so has the rest of the squad.

In Mazura’s sophomore season, she started all 20 games and the Golden Bears improved to 11-6-3.

This year, the Bears (16-4-2) have the most victories they’ve had since 2000.

The Bears advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament before falling Sunday, 2-1, at No. 2-seeded Florida State.

Mazura is no stranger to winning. At Corona del Mar, her Sea Kings teams had a combined winning record of 44-16-13 and won two Pacific Coast League titles, finishing second in 2002.

Mazura was an integral part of those teams, being named first-team All-Pacific Coast League in 2001 and 2002.

Mazura said she club soccer prepared her most for collegiate soccer.

“Compared to club soccer, high school soccer was so much more laid back,” Mazura said.

She played for Slammers FC for Head Coach Walid Khoury. Mazura credits him as an “amazing” coach that developed her skills and taught her drive and determination.

“I loved playing under him,” Mazura said. “He helped make the player I am today.”

The sociology major said support from home helped her deal with the ups and downs she has had during her college career.

“My parents have been supportive,” Mazura said.

“I don’t know what I would what do without them.”