GIRLS: HART TOURNEY TO BE LOADED.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

While Foothill League rivals Canyon and Saugus choose not to, the Valencia High girls' soccer team welcomes the idea of playing some holiday soccer in its backyard.

The Vikings join crosstown Hart in the Indians' tournament that begins Wednesday and concludes Friday. Valencia and Hart should play quality opponents, with four of the Daily News Top 10 teams participating.

But Valencia isn't just looking for good competition this week.

``It's a good tournament for us because it's a local tournament,'' said coach Tony Scalercio of Valencia, which has entered the tournament in each of his four seasons. ``Every year when they call me to go, we go.''

This season Valencia, ranked fourth by the Daily News, would have to be considered a favorite along with No. 2 Louisville of Woodland Hills, which has several injuries and will bring up a number of junior varsity players to add depth.

Valencia isn't so concerned about winning this tournament. Scalercio is trying to find the right combination in his lineup. He experimented at last week's Buena tournament in Ventura and will have six matches over three days to work out any last kinks until the Vikings open defense of their Foothill League championship Jan. 4.

``It's an opportunity to see players in different positions,'' Scalercio said. ``Having one game (in a day) and not being able to get them into that game when it's a close game. It's a lot better when you have two games. You can play some different players.''

Host Hart lost a penalty-kick heartbreaker to Buena of Ventura in last year's championship match. But winning the title also is not the Indians' focus, but for different reasons.

Hart, which is almost starting over after suffering heavy graduation losses, is treating the preseason as a learning tool for Foothill League play.

``In practice, there (are) a lot of corrections to be made. I have to stop so many times and say `No, no, no. We're not going to do that,' '' coach Juan Arias said. ``But they're learning. And they're going to do fine.''

So will Valencia, which as the defending league champion is a slight favorite to repeat over expected challenges from Canyon, underrated Saugus and what figures to be a dangerous if not pesky Hart team.

Certainly, the Vikings will play more important matches than this week's tournament. But with Chatsworth, El Camino Real of Woodland Hills and Louisville in the draw, the Vikings will gauge where they fit into the postseason.

And then there's last year's tournament semifinal match against Hart to ponder. The rivals played to a 1-1 tie, but the Indians advanced into the championship after beating the Vikings on penalty kicks.

Valencia eventually avenged the loss by snapping Hart's seven-year streak of Foothill League titles. But the Vikings' veterans haven't forgotten.

HART GIRLS' SOCCER TOURNAMENT

When: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Teams: Pool A: Hart, Glendale, Camarillo; Pool B: Louisville, Chatsworth, Grant; Pool C: Valencia, Santa Monica, Muir; Pool D: El Camino Real, Santa Barbara, Calabasas.

Wednesday's key matches: At 8 a.m., Hart vs. Glendale, Valencia vs. Muir and Louisville vs. Chatsworth. At 11 a.m., Camarillo vs. Hart and Louisville vs. Grant. At 12:30 p.m., Calabasas vs. El Camino Real. At 2 p.m., Chatsworth vs. Grant. At 3:30 p.m., Valencia vs. Muir.

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HART GIRLS' SOCCER TOURNAMENT (see text)