The Ventura County Fusion has played so well on the infrequent occasions in which it's lined up over the first six weeks of the Premier Development League season that each match has seemed like an event.

So when the team's UC Santa Barbara products, like attacker Eric Avila and defender Alfonso Montagalvan, were called to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Gauchos' national championship season Monday alongside 27 other NCAA Division I titlists, the first thought was how the players could squeeze in the experience alongside tonight's Fusion trip to its local rivals, the San Fernando Valley Quakes.

The group will take a red-eye flight east, just hours after the final whistle at Granada Hills High.

"That shows you how keen they are to play," said Fusion coach Graham Smith. "These boys did not want to miss a game, even for President Bush. The Fusion came first."

Especially during a stretch of the season in which the Fusion (5-1) has only played one match the 2-1 home win June 2 over the Orange County Blue Star in its last 29 days.

The Fusion has played only six matches since the season began April 28, fewest in the Southwest Division.

"It seems like such a long time since we've played," said Smith.

In contrast, the Quakes (7-2-2), who fell 2-0 in the Fusion's home opener May 6, have played a division-high 11 times.

The Quakes even played Friday, a 3-0 home victory over the Bakersfield Brigade.

"That means they'll be up for another victory," said Smith. "There will be a good edge on the game."

The layoff has given the Fusion valuable time to convalesce. UCLA defenders Greg Folk (back) and Brad Rusin (staph infection) are fit and ready for selection. Attacker Gabe Farfan (dislocated toe) is one of several Fusion players who have made significant progress at Advantage physical therapy in Ventura.

"The rest, in many ways, has been a blessing in disguise," said Smith.

But it wasn't rest and relaxation for the entire squad. Striker Mark Draycott, who has scored six goals in five matches, was named to the PDL Team of the Week after his two-goal performance against Orange County.

The honor came the same day the Fusion opened its second straight two-week layoff with a friendly match against the Los Angeles Galaxy reserves at the Home Depot Center.

It drew the match, 1-1, thanks to a goal by midfielder Michael Farfan.

"The game against the Galaxy was a really good yardstick against a team allegedly from another level," said Smith. "Although I don't think I'd swap too many of my players for the players we played against."

The rest has the Fusion over the disappointment of missing out of a berth in the U.S. Open Cup on goal difference and pointed toward a run at the division title and the playoffs.

When Smith looks at the standings, he doesn't see his team eight points behind the Quakes, he sees a potential seven-point lead once the five games in hand are played.

"All we have to do is win our games in hand and we'll win the league," said Smith. "That's the task that we give the players, to win every single game."