HART SHOULD TOP FOOTHILL DESPITE SLOW START, INDIANS COULD STILL WIN LEAGUE TITLE.

Byline: Heather Gripp  Staff Writer

Remember last season's rough stretches that included a league race so tight the Hart High girls' soccer team was almost denied a spot in the playoffs. Remember the way the Indians came back to clinch the Foothill title in the final league game and went on to win the Southern Section Division II championship.

That's why Hart's 3-5 nonleague record isn't fooling many Foothill members into taking the Indians lightly as league play starts this week.

``You always have to say, `Hart is going to be the top dog,' '' said Canyon coach Gregg Cohen, whose team missed the playoffs last season as part of a three-way tie for second place, but with an 11-3-1 nonleague record, resembled a defending division champion more than the Indians did.

While Canyon and Valencia turned in nonleague performances indicative of contenders, Hart struggled to adjust to a new coach, an offense that no longer includes Erin Misaki, who moved on to the University of Portland, and a variety of injuries. Indians coach Costa Nicolaou is not concerned and believes his team's problems are behind them.

``We had a good talk about it Monday,'' he said.

``We haven't played to our potential yet. We have the potential to do much better. Having said that, it might have been good that we lost some games in the preseason. If anyone had their heads in the clouds, this pulls them back down. They're focused and ready for league.''

Hart's inaugural appearance at the prestigious Excalibur tournament last week was marred by illness and injury. Stopper Sara Dean had to fill in at goal when Sara Lind suffered a shoulder injury and Cassondra Kaeding was already out with a knee injury. Lind is back this week and the Indians were getting closer to full strength by Tuesday's league opener against Saugus (2-7-2).

Saugus has struggled, too, since opening the season with a 6-0 victory against Palmdale. Finding healthy players has been a problem, but not as much as an inability to score. The responsibility of leading the offense was taken on by freshmen Mary Ortega and Jocelyn Hein, who entered the week with a team-high three goals.

Canyon is just the opposite, with several players contributing to a productive offense led by sophomores Jaime Rendich and Natalie Sozio.

Despite its youth, Valencia surprised coach Tony Scalercio with a much stronger nonleague showing than he expected. The Vikings went 11-2-1 and won the first tournament championship in team history last week by claiming the Lancaster tournament title.

Scalercio points to a ``great attitude,'' that includes a strong work ethic and eagerness to learn, for making a bigger impact than any single player on the balanced team with five freshman starters.

``I've got a really cohesive group with great chemistry,'' Scalercio said. ``I just don't have quite as much talent as Hart.

``Hart, Canyon, Valencia. On paper, that's what it should be - one, two, three. At the end of the season, I don't know if it'll be that way, though.''

Valencia and Canyon both host Hart next week.

``I think every game in league will be a tough game,'' Nicolaou said. ``Every team will come to beat us and try extra hard. If we do what we can do and do it efficiently and stay healthy and stay focused, I don't foresee us having any problems.''

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Photo: (color) Jaime Rendich (8) and her Canyon teammates looked like Foothill champion contenders in nonleague competition.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News