Palisadians Have Eagles Flying High

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

In the fall, Zach Hausner and Campbell Collar powered the Brentwood School water polo team to the Prep League title and the Southern Section Division 4 quarterfinals. They traded in their caps and swim suits for cleats and jerseys and now, with help from fellow Palisadian Asher Aronzon they have the Eagles’ soccer squad in first place in the Gold Coast League and No. 1 in the CIF Division 6 rankings.

Brentwood improved to 13-0-1 with Saturday’s 4-3 triumph at league rival Windward. It was the most goals the Eagles have allowed in a game all season, but they left Foley Field with a win. Thanks in large measure to its trio of Palisades defenders the  team surrendered only five goals  in its first 14 contests, including 11 shutouts.   

Collar is one of the team cpatains and starts at center back. Hausner starts at left back, but filled in at goalkeeper last winter and the first few games this year while starter Anjan Chakravarti recovered from a knee injury. Aronzon has been hurt a bit and is working back into the lineup.

“Campbell is our leader and has played every minute of every game and Zach has picked up where he left off,” Brentwood Coach Matt Salem said. “They’re solid guys who work well together, they’ve been solid defenders and complement each other. In terms of chemistry this is the best team we’ve had. This group plays very consistently, whether we’re up in the game or down.”

All three Palisadians graduate in May. Hausner will be going to Washington University in St. Louis, Asher will attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Collar is deciding amongst Tulane, SMU, Indiana, Colorado and other schools.    

All three played for Pacific Coast Soccer Club (PCSC). Collar and Aronzon live in the Alphabet Streets and Hausner lives in the El Medio Bluffs.

Hausner and Collar have been schoolmates and best friends since they were first-graders at Palisades Elementary and have played soccer together since then in AYSO Region 69, then AYSO All-Stars, then the EXTRA program, then club soccer and now in high school. In fact, Hausner is the reason Collar got interested in water polo three years ago.

Playing behind them in goal, Chakravarti cites the strengths of  Collar and Hausner: “Campbell is more about speed whereas Zach is physical and will body up. We haven’t allowed any breakaways all season. They’re also good in the air and challenge really well.”