BOYS' SOCCER NOTEBOOK: UNDEFEATED CANOGA PARK ENTERS HUNT FOR NATIONAL TITLE.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writer

The Canoga Park High boys' soccer team is no longer just chasing a City Section championship. The Hunters have vaulted into the national-title race, earning the No. 4 spot in this week's Student Sports national winter Fab 50 rankings.

Canoga Park entered the national rankings after a dominant run to the championship at last week's West Coast High School Classic. No. 2 Millikan of Long Beach is the only California team ranked ahead of the Hunters.

``It's absolutely the highest we've been ranked,'' Canoga Park coach Jake Gwin said. ``I don't think a City team has ever gotten that kind of national recognition before.

``I think there was always the stigma the City teams weren't as good as the Southern Section teams. I think we've been overlooked in recent years because of that, but after what we did at this tournament, I think we've opened some eyes.''

Canoga Park (9-0-1) went 6-0-1 at the elite event. The fourth-seeded Hunters took the tournament title with a 3-0victory over Loyola of Los Angeles on Saturday at Cal State Fullerton after edging defending champion Clovis West of Fresno in the semifinals earlier in the day.

Canoga Park's lone loss in its past 34games was in last season's City final against Birmingham of Lake Balboa. The majority of the Hunters' lineup returned this season as seniors and they have outscored opponents 32-7 ahead of next week's Sunset Six League opener against Poly of Sun Valley.

``I don't know if you'll ever see a team this good again,'' Gwin said. ``I keep calling it an anomaly. I don't think I'll ever field a team this good again unless I'm coaching in college.''

Can't beat the Royal D: Royal of Simi Valley claimed its second tournament championship of the season last week, thanks in large part to one of the region's stingiest defenses.

The Highlanders (12-2-1) have allowed just seven goals in 15 games, and Friday's 2-0 win over Upland in the Upland tournament final was their ninth shutout.

Senior sweeper Johnny Avina was selected tournament MVP for his role in holding opponents to two goals during the three-day event.

Royal, which also won the La Canada tournament last month, will resume Marmonte League play Monday against Agoura.

Hernandez hurting: Palmdale will begin defense of its Golden League title today with its leading scorer ailing.

Senior forward Christian Hernandez is expected to play, but is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him during last week's West Coast High School Classic.

Hernandez was hurt going for a 50-50 ball during practice, according to coach Jarrod Cline.

``He just came out on the wrong side of it,'' Cline said. ``We practice hard, they were going all out. ... We lose his speed, but he can still pass.''

The situation is a familiar one for the Falcons (10-3-1), who lost their only game last season after leading scorer Jose Garay was injured and could not play the second half of their Southern Section semifinal.

``We need to be ready for things like this,'' said Cline, whose team will play host to Highland of Palmdale in this afternoon's Golden league opener. ``It happened last year with Jose in our last game. Sometimes you don't see these things coming, but you've got to be ready. It'll make the rest of our team better. And could make Christian even better because he's so used to relying on his speed and he can't do that now.''

Bittersweet championship: The biggest tournament showing in Knight of Palmdale's brief history came with a potentially big blow to the Hawks' hopes of contending for their first Golden League title.

Knight's 2-0 victory over Reseda at last week's Lancaster tournament clinched the Hawks' second-ever varsity tournament title and the first against large schools, but two starters were lost for the remainder of the season.

Senior Miguel Orellana, an All-Golden League selection last season who had six goals this season, suffered a broken arm. Senior Javier Guerra suffered a broken leg early in the first half.

Reseda goalkeeper Andy Munos was also injured during the game, hurting his right knee when he crashed into a goalpost while attempting to make a save.

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