DAILY UPDATE.

Byline: - Gerry Gittelson

COLLEGES

College of the Canyons 

It's official: men's soccer joins the ranks of intercollegiate sports offered at College of the Canyons beginning in Fall 2003. The college approved the decision Wednesday at the Board of Trustees meeting.

``I'm just thrilled,'' said women's soccer coach Phil Marcellin, who will assume the role of coach for both the men's and women's teams. ``We've been asked for years when we would add a men's program by everyone from community members to international students. Well, the day's finally here.''

The team can begin play in late August 2003, and tryouts tentatively are scheduled for late June. Marcellin, who led the women's team to three consecutive Western State Conference titles from 1999 to 2001, thinks the tryouts will see a large turnout.

``This valley has an excellent history of soccer tradition, from AYSO to club teams to four outstanding high school programs,'' Marcellin said. ``But a player looking to join a college program had to travel to CSU Northridge or Mission College or Moorpark - not anymore.''

The team is projected to accommodate 18 to 25 active-roster players and will compete in the Western State Conference.

The Master's College 

After 11 days away from home, the women's basketball team returns to Bross Gym to face visiting Concordia University at 5:30 p.m. tonight.

The second-place Lady Mustangs (14-3, 7-2) have won five Golden State Athletic Conference games in a row, including a 70-60 victory at Fresno Pacific on Tuesday.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Canyon

Each Canyon football player received a 100-plus page commemorative booklet at the team's annual banquet in Granada Hills last Saturday. Team mom Wendy Weinrich, along with Richard and Sheri Rose, put together the booklet and organized the event.

``It's a memento that these kids will save and one day share with their grandkids, that's how nice these things are,'' coach Harry Welch said. ``I can't verbalize how thankful I am for the work that was put into it. It was an immense job.''

Hart

Perhaps Andrew Morris, one of the top returning starters on the boys' basketball team, will be a rock-and-roll star one day. His life ambition is to sing in a punk band.

Saugus

The boys' soccer team, which played at Burroughs in Burbank late Friday, doesn't have another home game until Feb. 4 against Canyon. That contest will end an 18-day stretch since the Centurions' last played at home.

Valencia

The Castaic area has proved to be excellent training ground for members of the girls' basketball team. Senior Kim Hardy, junior Tamaiya Smith and sophomore Brittany Sansone all are from Castaic, and standout Kelley Tarver moved into Castaic during her eighth-grade year. All four are starters this season. Reserves Lindsey Smith and Kriselda Munsayac also are from Castaic.

Also, junior varsity players Elizabeth Schwartz, Deanna Delisio and Mikala Fricke are from Castaic.