NO LONGER ZEROES SHUTTING OUT THE PAST N.D. GIRLS' SOCCER SHOOTS FOR PLAYOFFS.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks almost pulled off one of the greatest turnarounds in Mission League girls' soccer history last season, nearly going from zero to hero in less than three weeks.

This year, the Knights are focused on making a different kind of history, one zero at a time.

Behind a defense that has already recorded nine shutouts, Notre Dame (9-2-3) is seeking the program's first Southern Section playoff berth since 1998. Their journey begins at 5 p.m. Friday against five-time defending league champion Harvard-Westlake of Studio City (7-7-2).

``The destiny is in the girls' hands the next 10 games,'' said Notre Dame coach Sarah Farnham -- formerly Sarah Morgan -- a four-year starter (1994-98) for the Knights who holds the program record of 75 career goals. ``We can come out scared and act like the old Notre Dame or we can come out with fire and show that we can play with anybody.''

Last season, Notre Dame showcased stretches of both. Following a 1-8-1 league record in 2004-05, the Knights went winless in the first round of league play, placing their postseason hopes in serious jeopardy.

``(Last year) we simply didn't believe in ourselves in the beginning,'' Farnham said. ``It had been so long since we'd won a championship or made the playoffs, that we didn't realize we were capable of doing so.''

Fearing that every game might be its last, Notre Dame rebounded to go 3-0-1 to open the second half of league play, and came within one game of reaching the Div. I playoffs before suffering a 2-1 setback at Harvard-Westlake.

``Everyone that was here last year, it eats us up inside,'' said senior Katie Beaulieu, the league's reigning goalkeeper of the year.

``We didn't make the push until it was too late. All we've talked about since then was contending in the Mission League and making the playoffs. Our preparation during the summer was for Jan.5.''

Harvard-Westlake built off the momentum of the Notre Dame victory en route to reaching the Div. I final for the first time in program history.

With eight seniors on this year's roster, including right fullback Nicole Nale and sweeper Lainie Ransom, the Knights are hoping their defense can carry them to similar results.

``They're the building blocks for our team's success,'' said Farnham, who has also relied heavily on junior stopper Marie Hirsch and sophomore fullback Hannah Snow.

``We wanted to set the tone early on in the preseason and now it's becoming contagious. The girls are believing they can get things accomplished.''

Notre Dame demonstrated just how impressive its defense can be by recording four shutouts in last week's HallofFameMagazine.com tournament.

``We've always been the team that plays scrappy defense,'' Beaulieu said. ``We're a group of no-name players that function well together. We pride ourselves on that.''

A shootout win over tournament champion La Salle of Pasadena gave the Knights an important confidence boost entering their biggest challenge of the season.

``We've definitely improved from last year. We feel like we can bring something we didn't have last year,'' said Nale, who was selected the team's most valuable player at the Simi Valley tournament.

``Our menality is we don't want to allow a ball to even get close to our goalkeeper, and if we do, we're going to use every bodypart to make sure we get it out of there. We know we have a great goalkeeper, but we don't want her to have to touch the ball.''

Beaulieu, who is being looked at by Loyola Marymount and SanDiego, was seldom tested in the run of play at the tournament. But she shined during shootouts.

``She was the best player in the tournament,'' said Flintridge Sacred Heart of La Canada Flintridge coach Frank Pace.

``She was unbelievable on some of those PKs.''

Ransom, a two-time all-league selection, believes the presence of such a strong netminder has only elevated NotreDame's level of play on the field.

``We all have the greatest confidence in Katie, but it doesn't stop at just Katie. It translates to everyone else,'' said Ransom, who is considering LMU and San Francisco State as possibilities to play soccer in college.

``It definitely helps to have last year behind us, but without the girls we have now, we wouldn't be where we're at.''

If the Knights can manufacture enough offense in support of its defense, then Notre Dame might be able to enjoy its first postseason appearance since Farnham's senior year.

``We want to try to keep a consistent level. We don't want to have the ups and downs and the rollercoaster season we had last year,'' Nale said. ``We know that all it takes is one mental lapse and we could be done.''

Ransom is determined not to let that be the tale of Notre Dame's next 10 games.

``It was really exciting at the end last year, but it hurt to lose to Harvard-Westlake,'' she said. ``We expect to make playoffs. We want it and we want it bad.''

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Photo:

Notre Dame girls' soccer players, front from left, Hannah Snow, Marie Hirsch, Nicole Nale, Lainie Ransom and, back row, goalkeeper Katie Beaulieu are aiming for the program's first playoff berth since 1998.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

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GIRLS' SOCCER TOP 10