SOCCER BEAT : THEY AREN'T ALL SO LUCKY.

Byline: Heather Gripp, Brian Dalziel

Injuries haven't kept the Chaminade High girls' team from earning its best finish at the competitive Excalibur tournament (second place), a championship at the El Segundo tournament and a No. 1 ranking in Division IV. The good fortune seems to have escaped one member of the team, though.

Freshman Lindsey Weening, who had one goal and three assists through the first four games, broke her collarbone in the Eagles' first loss last month. When Weening went down to Orange County last week to support her teammates at the Excalibur tournament, a ball flew over the net just as her family was arriving and smashed the windshield of their car.

``After that ball hitting the windshield, I'm starting to think it's bad luck for her at Chaminade,'' Eagles coach Mike Evans said. ``If things like this keep happening, I'm not sure how long we'll be able to get her to stay.''

ODD START TO SEASON

Royal boys' coach Kevin Corley is having a tough season.

His Highlanders - 5-8-2 heading into the week - are posting a losing record for the first time since he took over the boys' program seven years ago.

During the past five seasons, Royal has won 20 or more games. In seven seasons, the Highlanders have won five Marmonte League titles and two CIF Division I championships.

This season, all eight losses have been by one goal, and the chance of not winning 20 games for the first time in the past five seasons is now a possibility for Royal.

``We're used to winning,'' said Corley, whose squad went 20-7-2 last season. ``It's been very tough.''

To add a little spark, Corley said some previous graduates have come out to practice. UCLA's Brandon Kay and Caleb Westbay, along with Azusa Pacific's Dan Wilson are just some who have tried to help the Highlanders.

``The difference in their level of play at practice was immediate,'' he said.

ELIGIBILITY NO PROBLEM

For the first time since David Hussey took over the El Camino Real boys' team five years ago, all 20 of his varsity players are academically eligible this season.

``I don't have a lot, maybe one or two each year (who are ineligible),'' Hussey said. ``Basically at the beginning of the year I tell them that we're an academic school first. I allow the kids to miss practice for tutoring if they need it.

``They all understand if you can't cooperate in the classroom, you don't deserve to be on the soccer field. I stress you have to be eligible if you want to play.''

NO, SHE'S NOT PLAYING

Calabasas girls' opponents can stop worrying - at least about one thing. Brooke Niles isn't playing.

``A lot of teams want to know, `Is Brooke playing? Is Brooke playing?' '' Coyotes coach Melissa Danio said.

Niles originally intended to return for her senior season, but after the first couple weeks of practice, last season's Frontier League MVP decided she wouldn't risk injury and is concentrating on volleyball. The Coyotes needed time to adjust to their new roles, but improved to 4-3-2 with Wednesday's win against La Reina and hope to contend for the league title when Frontier play starts next week.

``Not having Brooke is definitely not easy, but we're working around it,'' Danio said. ``No one is a Brooke Niles in her skill or leadership capability this year. It's spread out over the team.''

BY THE NUMBERS

Canyon's boys' team hasn't lost in its past six games (3-0-3), and goalkeeper Matt Jordan had recorded three straight shutouts before Wednesday. . . . After an 0-1-2 start, St. Francis' boys are 8-2-2 since. . . . St. Francis sophomore Ryan Shaw, the school's No. 2 cross country runner, has six goals in the past five games. . . . Twelve players scored for the Harvard-Westlake girls' team in the Wolverines' first 12 games. . . . Loyola goalkeeper Nic Platter, a senior, has nine shutouts this season. . . . Sophomore Tony Sangari of El Camino Real is making the most of his first varsity season, having scored five goals and contributed two assists.