CAL LUTHERAN NOTES: PHILBY GOES OUT IN STYLE; ALL-STAR GAME ENDS CLU CAREER.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

They rolled out the red carpet this weekend for Cal Lutheran All-American defender Lara Philby, and on this particular rug soccer cleats were most definitely welcomed.

Philby, the SCIAC Player of the Year in 1997, played in the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic on Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., part of a high-profile soccer weekend. She played 70 minutes at three positions for her side, comprised of NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA all-stars from around the nation. They lost to a team of Division I stars 4-0.

``It was like getting the royal treatment,'' said Philby, a senior. ``I had never felt that important playing soccer. It was a great way to end my college career.''

Whether her soccer career continues, however, is a different question. While the women's portion of the Umbro Classic was as high in intensity as the men's - the women signed as many autographs as the men did - it was the men who were negotiating pro contracts during the various gatherings and events.

The options for women's players in the U.S. are limited, to be kind. The National Soccer Alliance, a proposed American women's pro league, recently postponed plans for a summer start to after the 1999 Women's World Cup, the finals of which will be held at the Rose Bowl.

The only official pro league is the women's arm of the USISL, a low-profile, low-paying entity. Meanwhile, women's leagues around the world are both competitive and popular.

The weekend's festivities and competition fanned Philby's itch to keep playing, but for now as close as she can come to making a living in the sport is a Thousand Oaks High frosh/soph girls' coaching job and an application for the vacant Oxnard College women's coaching job.

``I don't know where I could start,'' she said. ``Maybe I could go abroad, but I don't know. It's really frustrating. I wish there were pro teams all over.''

For now, Philby will look forward to marriage following graduation in June, a marketing internship with the Women's World Cup and memories of a stellar career at CLU.

``I was so blessed to play here,'' said the San Diego native. ``It was high level, but it was fun. That's what sports are supposed to be about.''

Break up CLU: After slow starts, the men's and women's basketball teams are reaching lofty positions in the SCIAC.

Three weeks ago, not many would have thought the Kingsmen (9-8, 5-1) would be playing tonight's 7:30 game at La Verne (14-3, 6-0) with first place at stake, but it is true. CLU is tied for second with Pomona-Pitzer (14-3, 5-1).

It helps that forward Mike Salser (17.7 ppg) is leading the conference in scoring, guard Johnny Allen (6.67 apg) is leading in assists and the team has improved its field goal shooting to 45 percent a game.

The Regals (10-6, 6-0) are alone in first place entering Tuesday's nonconference game with Chapman. CLU is shooting a SCIAC-high 73.7 percent from the foul line.

Missy Rider is seventh in the conference in scoring (12.4 ppg) and averages 7.2 rebounds, while Brandie Murrish is ninth (10.9 ppg). Murrish is also averaging 6.9 rebounds, 2.38 assists and 1.75 steals per game.

Water hazard: The CLU men's golf team played one round of the Roadrunner Invitational golf tournament in Bakersfield before rain and wind forced its cancellation Tuesday.

The Kingsmen were eighth of 12 teams in the event. David Richardson and Jon Manning shot twin 80s on the par-72 Seven Oaks Country Club course to lead the team, nine strokes off the pace.

Alumni game set: The CLU baseball alumni game is scheduled for Saturday at noon. Among the participants is former Kingsmen Darrell McMillin, who played at CLU in 1992 and helped lead the team within two outs of an NCAA Division III national championship.

McMillin set single-season records for runs (59), home runs (19) and total bases (141), while finishing with the third most at-bats (183), hits (71) and tied for second in RBI (52).

The 1998 Kingsmen open the season Feb. 11 at NAIA Biola University.

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PHOTO Cal Lutheran's Mike Salser, left, is the SCIAC scoring leader while Johnny Allen is tops in assists.

John McCoy / Daily News

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