SOCCER NOTEBOOK: HAGHDAN'S BUSY SUMMER WILL BE BIG THIS FALL.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

Playing defense in the Golden League this season isn't going to be much fun. But watching Highland High soccer standout Sahar Haghdan on offense should be plenty entertaining.

Haghdan, who scored 10 goals as a freshman and a school-record 28 goals as a sophomore last season, is only a handful of goals from breaking Highland's career scoring record set by Lindsay Giampetro.

Even if she had stayed the same in the offseason, Haghdan easily should break the record early this season. But defenders will find an added dimension to her game this fall.

Over the summer, Haghdan won the 16-under national championship in futsal, an indoor form of soccer that's popular in Brazil.

Futsal is five-on-five soccer that has produced such international soccer stars as Pele, Ronaldo and Bebeto. Played on a hardcourt or turf with no sidewalls, futsal is recognized by FIFA as the ``World's Indoor Game'' and has been making inroads in the United States.

Because of the small court and special low-bounce ball, the pace of a futsal game often is frenetic, like free-substitution hockey. Ball-control and dribbling skills are at a premium in futsal, and Haghdan says it has improved her skills.

``My touch on the ball and footwork are so much better now,'' she said. ``Before I'd just think about going up the field, but in futsal, you think more about attacking.''

At 5-foot-2 and barely 105 pounds, one thing Haghdan does need work on is holding the ball against bigger defenders.

``I think futsal will help her a lot because you have to deal with small spaces and bigger people,'' Highland coach Lemuel Galvao said. ``If a bigger player traps her and confines her to a small space, what she learned in futsal should help her with that.''

Galvao would be happy this season if Haghdan duplicated her 28 goals of a year ago - 18 of which came in league play. But because of her work ethic and desire to improve, Galvao is expecting more.

``She wants to go to UCLA and I know they've sent her letters,'' he said. ``If she continues to improve, I definitely think she can play at that level.''

And with league MVP Mandy Heins having graduated from Quartz Hill, which has won six consecutive league titles, Highland figures to have a shot at the championship. The Bulldogs finished second in league last year after two close losses to Quartz Hill.

Highland has been hurt by its inexperience and injuries in the past. But now that the core of the team is older and standout Annika Perkins has recovered from a torn knee ligament, it should have a different character.

``We're going to be a lot better this year because most people have been going to club over the summer and improving,'' Haghdan said.

But only Haghdan has played futsal.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Sahar Haghdan is only a few goals away from breaking Highlands team record for goals.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer