COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS NOTEBOOK; WOMEN'S SOCCER FOLLOWS SOLID OPENING ACT.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Staff Writer

In its inaugural season last year, the College of the Canyons women's soccer team was a respectable 11-12-3. The team has gotten off to a more promising start in '99, winning its only game, a 3-1 scrimmage victory over Mt. San Antonio College.

Last year, in a regular-season game, Mt. SAC beat COC 8-0.

``Mt. SAC is a very good program traditionally - one of the top 10 in Southern California,'' coach Phil Marcellin said. ``To come back and start the year off playing that well, I'm very pleased indeed.''

Top returning goal-scorer Christa Sanchez netted the Cougars' first goal. Marcellin said last season Sanchez was a marked player, with defenses focusing on stopping her with physical play. This year, COC has other weapons that should open up the field for Sanchez.

Former Canyon High player Nicki Melillo, a midfielder who spent her freshman season at Chico State before transferring to COC this year, scored the Cougars' second goal. Katie Baca, a member of Hart High's section championship team last year, added the third goal.

Marcellin was pleased to see players like Baca and Melillo score goals, considering that is not their top priority.

``(Baca) has good ball-distribution skills; she's more of a playmaker,'' Marcellin said. ``She gets the ball into the goal-scoring chances. This was a good start for her career here; if she can (score) too, we'll take it.''

Marcellin will need all the goal scorers he can get to pick up the slack left by the absence of Christie Burnett, who led the team with 14 goals last year.

Burnett decided not to play this season and focus on academics, Marcellin said.

Tough enough?: The goalie for COC's soccer team is Jessica Gregg, a multi-talented athlete who played soccer, volleyball and football at Barstow High last year.

Gregg was the football team's backup placekicker. She has made field goals and extra points during her career.

``Most of the girls (on the team) have heard those stories and they were like, `Wow,' '' Marcellin said. ``It makes going one-on-one (against the goalie) a little more intimidating. It's all right by us.''

Marcellin said the team does not keep stats during scrimmages, but Gregg made at least four or five saves.

Coming along: The first goal of women's golf coach Gary Peterson - to field a team - is nearing accomplishment in the program's first season. How competitive it will be does not concern him.

``I'm really trying to create a comfortable environment for these women to become accustomed to competitive play; none have played competitively before,'' Peterson said. ``The first goal I had was to get a group of women together; the second was to make sure they're improving and the third was to have fun. I think all of the goals will be achieved.''

Peterson changed the team's schedule, pushing back its first match to allow his players more time to learn how to play more competitively. Despite the number of women on the team who are over 30 years old, they have only played the sport recreationally.

The Cougars, with a current roster of 13, were to play two matches by Aug. 30, but Peterson canceled them in favor of beginning the season with a Sept. 13 match against Santa Barbara Community College.

``We're only going to play nine or 10 matches, then every year we'll build it up as we get more accomplished golfers,'' Peterson said. ``I don't see any reason why we won't be as successful as the men. I'm only 44; I have 21 years of coaching left.

``What a great year it would be for the women (and men) to win a state championship. I don't see any reason why that can't happen in the next 10 years.''

Peterson said the sport is still open to any player who would like to join. All that is needed is a course load of 12 credits. Information: [phone] Ext. 3379.