BOYS' SOCCER NOTEBOOK: BRUCE LOOKS TO RE-FOCUS QUARTZ HILL.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

QUARTZ HILL - The midseason appointment of Tony Bruce as Quartz Hill High's new boys' soccer coach might have been stunning to outside observers. But Bruce already was a familiar face to Rebels players and parents from his role as a local Olympic Development coach.

By his own estimation, Bruce had coached about half the Quartz Hill team at a younger age before taking over the program Monday when Andre Matalon resigned facing player protest. Matalon led Quartz Hill to a Southern Section Division I co-championship last year.

``I think some people mentioned my name once Andre resigned,'' said Bruce, who has coached in the Antelope Valley since 1988. ``I was kind of a ready-made guy to step in because there were not any real strings'' associated with being a club coach.

Bruce coaches the San Bernardino Blast club team, as well as an under-15 state team. He works in the Olympic Development program, is a former assistant at Cal State Northridge and helped Highland coach Danny Young with scouting a year ago.

Most importantly, he had the immediate support of players.

``We're really happy that (Bruce's) with us, he's got a great knowledge of the game,'' senior midfielder Kiel McClung said. ``We're ready, we're focused for the league. We're ready to get going. ... All we want to do is focus on the task ahead.''

Bruce is expected to be on the sidelines today, when Quartz Hill plays Lancaster in its Golden League opener. The Rebels (6-5-3) have slumped almost from the start of the season, when they were ranked third nationally and Matalon spoke about finishing the year with a perfect record.

As his team reviewed formations Wednesday afternoon, Bruce talked about revised expectations. He has no question Quartz Hill should make the playoffs, as well as compete for a fourth consecutive league title. He said his first goal, however, is getting the team's seniors to play at a high- enough level to move on to college programs.

``Everything's been kind of upside-down,'' Bruce said. ``They won CIF last year, but maybe the expectations were a little high from some people. I'm kind of lucky, because it's a win-win situation as far as the expectations for me.''

--Spencer's return: After leaving Desert Christian in 1997, Jon Spencer played at UC Irvine and trained with the MLS's Kansas City Wizards the past six months. But when he returned home to Lancaster to ponder his professional future, he also accepted the opportunity to coach at his alma mater.

``I was just going to be at home training, and the principal asked me if I could do it,'' Spencer said.

So far, Spencer's team hasn't skipped a beat, even with its fourth new coach in four years. The Knights were 6-0-1 entering Thursday's game against Mojave. Senior forward Adam Sultan has continued his torrid scoring pace from last year, recording 15 goals in seven games.

And though Spencer won't talk about it yet, Desert Christian appears poised to make a run deep in the Southern Section Division VI playoffs. In Spencer's senior season, the Knights lost to Maranatha in the quarterfinals, the best finish in school history.

Desert Christian has received strong play from senior midfielder Stephen Seston, senior defender David Wright and senior goalkeeper Matt Fike, Spencer said. The coach, meanwhile, said he is unsure whether he will be able to realize his dream of playing professionally in the MLS.

``There's not a whole lot of MLS spots open,'' Spencer said of the league, which folded its two Florida franchises before last season. ``You're trying to beat out guys who have played for four, five or six years.''

--A different valley: As part of its nonleague schedule, Highland played Santa Clarita schools Canyon, Saugus and Valencia - half of the six teams in the Foothill League. The Bulldogs fared well, losing only to Canyon on a fluke goal in a wild 6-5 game Dec. 17.

Highland (6-2-4) will be looking to dethrone Quartz Hill and win its first league title in four years. Junior Mauricio Harrie is leading the Bulldogs in scoring and senior captain Sean Franklin also has played well. The Bulldogs open against Antelope Valley today.

``We're really well-balanced,'' Highland coach Danny Young said. ``We don't rely on any superstars, but we have a good overall club.''