BACK OUT IN FRONT H.-W. SENIOR LEADS DEFENSE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Kim LaVere is still in awe when watching Imani Dorsey play soccer. Television doesn't take away a thing.

They used to be teammates at Harvard-Westlake of Studio City. Dorsey moved to the University of Portland two years ago and this year helped the Pilots into the NCAA Final Four before losing to No. 1 North Carolina last weekend.

LaVere blossomed under Dorsey's eye and is the Wolverines' ace defender entering today's 3:15 p.m. showdown against visiting Louisville of Woodland Hills in the Mission League opener and a matchup of the Daily News' No. 1 and No. 2 teams.

The Wolverines' sweeper, LaVere enters her fourth varsity year with big-match and postseason experience at the high school and club Cover story

level. Last season she maintained a steady backfield whose goalkeeper, Dana Reyes, was just a freshman. The senior-less Wolverines won their first-ever Southern Section championship, sharing the Division IV title with Louisville.

``She held the defense together, and her communication in the back helped Dana and helped our team,'' junior forward Tracy Lansing said.

What LaVere is now, Dorsey was two years ago. LaVere has always been a starting defender for the Wolverines, picking Dorsey's brain as a younger player.

``I emulated her,'' LaVere said of Dorsey. ``She was a great defensive player. She always had a strong presence in the back, always got up and won the balls in the air, maintained her composure and was really vocal.''

LaVere knows she's not dreaming and doesn't need to be pinched when she watches her teammate playing for one of the nation's premier Division I programs.

``It always seems like a dream. But people are doing it,'' she said. ``It makes us realize that we can actually do what we want to do.''

From the back row to the front and in between, Harvard-Westlake is loaded. Everyone except head coach Ned Smith is back to defend the Division IV co-championship.

Smith took an administrative job at a school in Minnesota, but new head coach Stacy Schwartz, Smith's former assistant, knows who the Wolverines' defensive catalyst is.

``In practice, the coaches tell Kim it's her defense. She really needs to be the leader for what goes on back there,'' Schwartz said. ``With having a freshman keeper last year, and not having experience, (LaVere needed) to take charge and step up in that role.''

LaVere isn't just about preventing other teams from scoring. She's capable of collecting goals in bunches when needed. Only they're usually not required with Lansing, Jamie Artsis, Gina Farias-Eisner and 2001 Daily News co-player of the year Jill Oakes playing ahead of LaVere.

LaVere has her share of assists, and she's normally the choice to take direct kicks near the penalty area. She's set up two goals off her set plays.

Oakes and LaVere are four-year veterans of many intense regular-season and playoff matches. They're the emotional and vocal leaders of the Wolverines, evident in last Thursday's match against Westlake.

Harvard-Westlake was down 1-0 and frustrated by the officiating. LaVere and Oakes made inspired pleas at halftime and throughout breaks within the second half until the Wolverines salvaged a 1-1 tie.

``She has respect from all the girls, and especially being in the backfield, where it can get very nerve-wracking,'' Oakes said. ``When you're down and you want to keep them out of the goal, I think she really carries this team.''

LaVere has been somewhat overshadowed by Harvard-Westlake's procession line of talent: Dorsey, Molly Cahan, Sara Deckers and now Oakes. But the Wolverines aren't overly concerned about who gets the most press clippings.

``It's like a team thing. No matter who's our strongest player, it doesn't matter who is emphasized,'' Lansing said. ``It's what we do in the long run.''

HARVARD-WESTLAKE vs. LOUISVILLE

Time: 3:15 p.m. at Harvard-Westlake

Louisville players to watch: Senior F Jenny Farenbaugh, Senior D Carrie Schuler, Sophomore MF Megen Merritt, Junior D Jessica Hyman, Senior MF Melanie Wong.

Harvard-Westlake players to watch: Senior MF Jill Oakes, Senior D Kim LaVere, Junior F Tracy Lansing, Junior MF Gina Farias-Eisner, Junior D Lindsay Kimura.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Kim LaVere, defensive sweeper at Harvard-Westlake, has become one of the area's outstanding age-group soccer players.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

HARVARD-WESTLAKE vs. LOUISVILLE (see text)