SAUGUS PLAYER COMPLETES GOAL JUNIOR RETURNS AFTER RECOVERING FROM SPLEEN INJURY.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

Regardless of what team she is competing for, just the fact that Laurel Riggin is playing high school soccer is enough for the 16-year-old.

After suffering a ruptured spleen in a club soccer game during the offseason, Riggin, a Saugus High junior, was told by doctors that she might not be able to play again.

Fortunately for her, she recovered to the point where she was able to secure the starting goalkeeping position for the Centurions (10-1-1), who enter their Foothill League opener at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Burbank riding a 10-gane unbeaten streak.

``I wasn't sure I was even going to be able to play,'' said Riggin, who has recorded six shutouts. ``This is just a blessing.''

A blessing that might also be considered a curse, after she transferred to Saugus from Canyon during the summer.

As a result of her decision, Riggin immediately became a subplot in the Santa Clarita Valley's favorite high school sports soap opera, which will finally reach its climax when Saugus plays at Canyon (7-1) at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Although Riggin played at the junior varsity level at Canyon, she still knew former Cowboys varsity coach Lisa Rollo, who, after leading the program to its third consecutive league title, made the decision to leave the school during the summer to accept a full-time teaching position at Saugus.

Rollo's decision also led to her becoming the girls' varsity coach for the Centurions, which created a domino effect that left Steve Ladanyi out of a job at Saugus. Ladanyi eventually landed Rollo's old job at Canyon.

So, after her family moved to a house in Saugus, Riggin decided to transfer schools, resulting her attending the Centurions' soccer camp during the summer.

``The majority of my friends went to Saugus, so that's why I decided to go there. (The move) really didn't have to do with soccer because I didn't even know if the doctors would allow me to play,'' Riggin said.

``When I showed up at the camp, Steve was there the first week. Then, (the administrators) said we were getting a new coach and that person was from Canyon, but I didn't know which coach. So, when I found out it was Lisa, it was kind of awkward because we were both at Canyon and then we both ended up at Saugus.

``I didn't really talk to her when I was at Canyon, because I was on JV and she was the varsity coach. But I was really excited to have her as a coach because she's an awesome person who has good values.''

Rollo thought those values might be questioned with Riggin's arrival at Saugus, but insisted the two moves had no connection.

``The thing is I know it looks bad,'' Rollo said. ``But my first priority when I came to Saugus was to teach. It wouldn't have bothered me if I hadn't coached at all my first year because I wanted to get settled with my teaching schedule.''

All has worked out well for both sides, as Saugus has emerged as a legitimate threat to Canyon, which also benefited from Ladanyi's arrival when former Saugus goalkeeper and Daily News first-team All-Area selection Erica Berriz took an assistant position at Canyon.

``Having Erica here has been a big plus,'' Ladanyi said. ``And I told the girls at Saugus that I know what you know, but you don't know everything that I know.''

Riggin, who remains best friends with Canyon junior Erin Shay, said: ``When I got to Saugus, I probably knew two girls on the team. But the girls were so sweet and they took me in and some of the best friends I have now are on the team.

``The whole experience has exceeded my expectations by far. I couldn't imagine it working out any better. It's been perfect because the girls make it so much fun.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Aside from dealing with a controversial transfer, Saugus goalkeeper Laurel Riggin battled a ruptured spleen that threatened her playing career.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer