COLLEGE NOTES HIGH DESERT HEROES GRIFFIN, LAWSON REMEMBER ROOTS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Unbeknownst to anyone else, Leonard Griffin and Tony Lawson vowed the first time either of them scored a goal for the UCLA soccer team, the two would do a cheer to honor where they came from.

It happened Sept. 6 against San Diego State. Griffin managed to push a ball past the Aztecs goalie and the celebretion began.

Griffin ran over to the UCLA bench where Lawson was, and the two threw up their hands and spelled two letters: ``A'' and ``V.''

Griffin, from Littlerock High, and Lawson, from Quartz Hill, are believed to be the first Antelope Valley-area soccer players to play for the Bruins.

``Me and Tony, we represent the Antelope Valley to the fullest extent,'' Griffin said. ``Let's get Palmdale, Littlerock and Lancaster on the map.''

They might show A.V. pride, but neither honed their skills near their homes. Griffin, in fact, drove more than hour to Arcadia to train with the Santa Anita Heat. He said he did it because he knew he had to go where the coaching was.

But it paid off. Griffin not only starts at left midfielder for the No. 1-ranked Bruins, he is a member of the under-20 national team pool and was an under-18 pool member when he was younger.

``He's very versatile, a great athlete,'' UCLA coach Todd Saldana said. ``He's very composed for someone his age.''

Lawson, a defender, isn't playing as much as Griffin, although he has appeared in every regular-season match. Saldana said Lawson is part of the future.

``He's very quick, very tough, very hard to beat one-on-one,'' Saldana said. ``He's got a great chance next year, but I have no problems using him now.''

--Finally: The running joke had been, What is Caleb Willis doing at UCLA? Answer: Getting an education.

Willis, a Royal High standout, brought his speed, ball skills and determination to the Bruins - and promptly sat on the bench for much of the past four years (including one redshirt season).

Now, however, he's starting and contributing.

``It's been a long road,'' he said. ``I had a lot of very legitimate players in front of me.''

Sasha Victorine, Pete Vagenas, Carlos Bocanegra and Nic Rimando were just four players who Willis said were top players who taught him well. Vagenas is still a Bruin, although right now he's with the Olympic team.

``We graduated eight people, and two went to MLS early,'' Saldana said. ``There were vacancies. You hope some older guys would step in and fill some spots.''

That's exactly what Willis, a fifth-year senior midfielder, has done. In the exhibition against Loyola Marymount, he came off the bench and impressed Saldana enough to give him a chance in a real match. Willis played in the Butler and Indiana matches and hasn't come out much since.

``Now I feel it's my turn,'' Willis said. ``I have all the confidence in the world.''

--On the mend: Royal graduate Brandon Kay's playing time at UCLA has been limited because he underwent foot surgery in the summer and is recovering slowly. He has played against San Diego State, Butler and Indiana.

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Photo:

(color in AV and Simi edition only) Leonard Griffin (above) and Tony Lawson are believed to be the first soccer players from the Antelope Valley to play that sport for UCLA.

Photo courtesy of UCLA