GIRLS' SOCCER: BUENA 2, HART 1 DEFENDING CHAMPS END HART'S SEASON.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

NEWHALL - A season filled with cheers ended in tears for Hart High's girls' soccer team Wednesday, as several players broke down following a 2-1 loss to visiting Buena of Ventura in the second round of the Southern Section Div. II playoffs.

Hart (22-5-1) couldn't parlay momentum after reaching the second round for the first time since 1999, and Rebecca Klamser scored the winning goal from close range in the 74th minute.

``We came out and gave it our all, but I think the better team won,'' said Hart's Sarina Coutin, who was held scoreless for the second consecutive game after netting a school-record 38 goals during the regular season. ``We can't dwell on this loss.''

Defending Div. II champion Buena (18-4-2) defeated Hart 5-1 in a nonleague game Dec. 15, but the Indians were without goalkeeper Brittany Tippet, serving a red-card suspension, in the first meeting. Tippet was in the nets Wednesday, but Hart didn't generate enough scoring opportunities to mount much of a threat.

``Brittany had a lot of good saves,'' said sophomore Lindsay Mills, who scored for Hart on a ricochet off the crossbar in the 55th minute. ``I was excited to score, because as a midfielder I don't get too many opportunities.''

Since the first loss to Buena, Hart had won 18 of 21 games and won the Foothill League title.

It didn't take long for Buena to take command in the rematch, scoring in the second minute on Alyssa Foutz's goal from close range off Amanda Ortiz's corner kick.

Foutz nearly scored again late in the first half, but her shot hit the crossbar.

Klamser thought Hart was better this time around.

``Last time we killed them, but this game was much closer,;'' she said. ``I think Hart played harder this time.

``It's do-or-die in the playoffs, so you have to be aggressive. I think after the first half, we thought we had it, then Hart started beating us to the ball a little bit in the second half.''

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com