A must-win season finale. A friendly against the fifth best team in England. Postseason soccer in Ventura.

The big moments are lined up like dominoes for the Ventura County Fusion this summer.

But first the county's first-year Premier Development League entry must deliver tonight at 7:30 at Buena High, where a win in the regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Storm will ensure the season continues.

A win puts the team in the postseason and, if the results around the state are favorable, could earn the first-year Fusion the PDL's Southwest Division title and make Ventura the site of next weekend's four-team Western Conference championship tournament.

"It's the most important game of the season," said Fusion coach Graham Smith. "It shouldn't be, but it's panned out that way."

The Fusion sits in second place with 29 points from 15 PDL matches, tied with the Fresno Fuego and three points behind the San Fernando Valley Quakes, who have completed their season.

Because of head-to-head results, wins and goal-difference tiebreakers, the Fusion will clinch second place and a playoff berth with a victory tonight and would win the division if the Fuego fails to win at San Francisco on Saturday.

The Fusion would only need a tie if it hadn't allowed Orange County to score a 91st-minute equalizer in Sunday's 3-3 tie.

"We've made it as hard on ourselves as we could," said midfielder Diego Barrera, a Thousand Oaks High product. "Now we have to dig ourselves out of the hole."

They'll probably have to do it without star Mark Draycott, who sprained an ankle scoring his 12th goal in 14 matches Sunday.

That potentially thrusts the Farfan brothers, Gabe and Michael, into a front-running role. When Draycott was suspended May 18, Gabe Farfan scored two fantastic goals in a 3-2 win over Fresno.

The Fusion will play Everton, the nine-time English champion, Tuesday afternoon at the Home Depot Center.

"I think we're 100 percent focused on the game (today)," said fullback Dylan Riley. "We're focused on our priorities and would definitely like to go into Tuesday's game as champions."

General manager Ranbir Shergill revealed Thursday the Fusion finished second to Fresno in the bidding to host next weekend's Western regional, which will pit the top two teams in both Western divisions. The BYU Cougars and Tacoma Tide have already clinched the Northwest Division's two places.

If Fresno fails to win Saturday, the Fusion will not only be the division champion, it will welcome three other playoff teams to the seaside.