SOCCER BEAT: IMPROVEMENTS SLOW IN COMING FOR SAUGUS.

Byline: Brian Dalziel Daily News Staff Writer

Saugus High boys coach Nate Wright thought his team would improve offensively from a year ago. But so far for the Centurions, the plan hasn't materialized.

Through nine games, Saugus has scored just seven goals and has compiled a 3-4-2 record.

``We've struggled on offense,'' Wright said. ``And that's where I thought we would be better than last year. Hopefully, it will iron itself out.''

To make matters worse for the Centurions, they were blown out 6-1 Wednesday by Lancaster - Saugus' worse loss this year.

``We've been playing solid and defensively we've looked sharp,'' Wright said. ``And offensively we were starting to click. But we didn't play up to our ability (against Lancaster).''

Saugus and Lancaster were tied 1-1 at halftime before the Eagles scored five straight.

``We played well in the first half,'' Wright said, ``then everything that could happen to us did.''

Lineup shuffle: First-year Hart coach Ron Lindberg's squad has been losing players left and right, prompting some lineup moves.

The revolving door is particularly active at forward, where Chris James was scheduled to start the season up front. However, he was badly burned in a science project accident at the school last month and won't return.

Oscar Mendez took James' spot but recently quit the team for personal reasons.

Now, either Jared Bazar or Chris Ciconne will take over for the time being. However, both most likely are a little rusty after helping Hart's football team win the Southern Section Division III title last Saturday.

``They're good athletes,'' Lindberg said of Bazar and Ciconne.

Lindberg is more concerned, though, with the defense. The Indians' lost their best defender, stopper Chris Williams, to a deep leg bruise last week. Lindberg doesn't know who will replace his senior, who is day to day.

``I have no idea,'' he said. ``But we do have to take care of the defense first.''

Tough trip: On Dec. 8, Hart traveled to Lancaster for a 6 p.m. nonleague match. There was one problem: No referees showed up.

The 4 p.m. junior varsity game was played with a parent who officiates AYSO games on weekends. Because of CIF rules, varsity teams must have a certified high school referee.

Lindberg said his squad talked to the Lancaster coach and tried to call the school's athletic director to find out what happened.

Apparently the officials went to another site. Still, Hart players waited in the cold wind while watching the JV game and the team didn't get home until 9 p.m.

``It was a joke,'' Lindberg said. ``With the wind and cold, it was probably 25 or 30 degrees. My kids were standing in the stadium for about three hours, then started warming up hoping the refs would show up.

``The coach didn't know what to say. He had nothing to do with it, though.''

Game on?: Lindberg said Thursday that he's trying to reschedule the postponed game with Lancaster for Monday.

But there's one condition.

``Only if we have the game here,'' Lindberg said. ``I'm not going to take my team out to Lancaster a second time.''

Lindberg said the game, if played, will start at 3 p.m.

Scoring trio: Canyon's boys team is off to a slow start, but the Cowboys have three players who are tied with three goals each through Tuesday's games.

Kevin Stone, Chad Donahue and Raul Chavez have provided the scoring punch for the Cowboys.

Hart tournament: All four Santa Clarita Valley boys teams will compete in the three-day Hart tournament, which starts Dec. 28.

In the first round, beginning at 8 a.m., Valencia takes on Glendale, and Saugus plays Alemany. At 9:40 a.m., Hart faces St. Francis, and Canyon takes on Chaminade.