The belief and determination was there. But the Camarillo Eagles Under-17 girls' soccer team learned achieving bigger goals requires scoring goals.

The Eagles suffered a 1-0 loss to Slammers FC in the championship game of the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships in Honolulu on Sunday.

The Slammers scored in the first 10 minutes of the second half on a corner kick while the Eagles prolonged a scoring drought against their Newport Beach rivals.

"To win a game like this, you have to get the breaks to go your way," Eagles head coach Vince Thomas said. "When we had opportunities to score, we needed those chances to go in the back of the net. We need to get better offensively because they have shut us out about five games in a row now."

Newbury Park High's Phillip Muscarella might be available to show his former club a few tricks.

Muscarella scored two of his team's four goals to lead the Valley United Blast Red to a 4-0 victory over Arsenal FC in the Under-15 boys' title game.

The victory gives the Blast a spot in the national championships in Little Rock, Ark., July 22-27.

Muscarella began his club career with the Eagles before making the switch to the Blast this season.

"I haven't really felt anything like this before," Muscarella said. "I haven't really won anything big with any club team and it just feels amazing."

The Eagles U-17 players were making their first appearance at regionals, and Thomas believes experience might have been a factor.

"The Slammers have been here for a few years now and it paid off for them today," Thomas said. "Hopefully, we will get there next year and the girls will know whatever they have to go through to find a way to win is worth it."

Eagles defender Jessica Stadheim says at least one psychological hurdle was cleared against the Slammers.

"Usually we are always nervous and get really scared when we play them," she said. "But this time we had a different mentality and believed we were going to change things, which is good."

Despite the loss, the Eagles felt Hawaii provided them with more than just a nice soccer vacation destination.

"I think we learned a lot about our team and we know what it takes for next year to get it done," Stadheim said before boarding a red-eye flight back to Southern California.

Muscarella was able to spend one more night in Hawaii and savor the championship experience.

"Everybody finally gets to relax now," he said. "We don't have to worry about anything anymore and we can all just loosen up and have fun."