GIRLS' SOCCER NOTEBOOK: WORK PAYS OFF FOR VALENCIA.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

The objectives remain the same for the Valencia High girls' soccer team even if the personnel has changed quite a bit since 2003, when it reached the Southern Section Div. II championship game.

The Vikings entered this season without a natural forward in their starting lineup and with several underclassmen being relied on heavily to support seniors Mackenzie Bear, Kierra Scalercio and Kyle Schnurr.

Still, coach Tony Scalercio is counting on his players to lead the team to its seventh consecutive playoff appearance in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive Foothill League races in years.

``Our goal is to make the playoffs,'' said Tony Scalercio, whose team enters Monday's Simi Valley Tournament with a 2-1-2 record. I'm holding them to a high standard and so far our results have been mixed because we're inexperienced. We've had trouble scoring, but I'm really pleased with the hard work the girls are putting in.

``It's not going to be easy to beat us. There's not going to be another team out there that's going to work as hard as our team.''

Valencia's hard work has been most evident on defense, which lost graduated All-Southern Section honorees Alex Link, Danielle Malkowski and Meghan Georgio. Valencia has recorded two shutouts and held opponents to a goal or less in nine of the 10 halves it has played.

Junior Adriana Hermosillo has been a consistent presence in the midfield for the Vikings, joining the three seniors and sophomore Alice Kong as the main cogs in Valencia's attack.

``We're defending well,'' Tony Scalercio said. ``I'm just going to have to continue to find ways to fill the holes (on offense) with role players. That's why we've been successful so far, because we've done it as a team.''

Valencia's chances for success in league might increase with the return of senior forward Kristi Kirst, who has been sidelined since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the club season.

Kirst told her coach she could begin running this week, giving Tony Scalercio hope she might be able to return to the lineup sometime in January.

``She won't be 100 percent, but just having her out there would make a big difference,'' Tony Scalercio said. ``She's good for a goal a game.''

--Immediate impact: While Tony Scalercio will have to wait to see if Kirst can have an impact, another player he is quite familiar with is making major contributions for another team in the league.

Hart freshman Sarina Coutin was touted by not only her high school coach, Jose Leon, but her club coach, Scalercio, as one of the brightest young talents in the league. So far she hasn't disappointed, recording five goals and five assists in the first five games for the Indians (3-2).

``Inch for inch and pound for pound, Sarina is the most talented player in our league,'' Scalercio said. ``(Canyon senior) Nini Loucks is the best player in the league by far, but considering Sarina's size it's amazing what she's able to do. She has developed so much in the past year.''

--Plenty of tests: Like the other three schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, Saugus is balancing its practice and game schedule this week with first-semester final exams.

So far the Centurions (3-1-1) and first-year coach Lisa Rollo have handled their challenging nonleague schedule quite well, entering a 5 p.m. game today at Chaminade (1-4-2) of West Hills.

But Rollo did notice that her players looked fatigued in Tuesday's 1-1 tie with Ventura, something she attributed to the effects of consecutive late nights of studying.

``I have very studious players who are very strong academically,'' said Rollo, who also is trying to balance teaching five classes of economics and grading exams with preparing her team for Chaminade, Friday's game at Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta and next week's Simi Valley Tournament.

``I'm excited about our game against Chaminade, but I'm a little worried about how they'll play because they looked tired against Ventura,'' she said. ``But so far I've been very encouraged with the results. I'm very impressed with the talent I have on the field. The team is doing well and the girls are united.''