SOCCER NOTEBOOK: TEAMS MAKING PLAYOFFS SPLASH.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The rain stayed away for most of the season, but when soccer teams want it least, it is here to add another twist to the playoffs.

Instead of traditional practices, teams resorted to other ways of staying in shape - the Westlake High girls tried kick boxing and the Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood girls did aerobics - while others practiced in condensed areas, trying to preserve their fields. With first-round games beginning today, teams are hoping the weather is not the factor that washes away their shot at a title.

``Sure it'll make it more difficult to play,'' Westlake senior Jenna Wirtz said. ``We play on the ground, that's our style, so it'll make it harder. But it was bad against Agoura (last Friday in a game the Warriors won) . . . . We had to adjust.''

Last season, when they were seeded No. 1 in the Division, the Warriors complained about having the home-field ``disadvantage'' throughout the playoffs. Even when it's dry, the Warriors' field is one of the area's least player-friendly. Last season it played a part in Westlake's elimination by Hart of Newhall, when the winning goal came on an unusual bounce off a rough patch of the ground.

The Warriors (16-2-1) are not seeded this time, but the Marmonte League champions do open at home Saturday against Santa Barbara in a rematch of last year's first round. Westlake intended to stay off the flooded field all week.

``It's terrible,'' Wirtz said of the field. ``It seems like the more we play on it, the worse it gets.''

During the regular season, many games get postponed because of the weather, but the short time frame for playoffs and the long travel for referees and teams results in playoff games being played in almost any condition.

``They won't cancel (the games),'' Rio Mesa of Oxnard coach Brent Kruk said. ``We played in a monsoon a couple years ago.''

Chaminade of West Hills girls' coach Mike Evans wishes his team had a chance to play regular-season games in conditions similar to what he anticipates for Saturday's first-round game at home.

``It doesn't look like it's going to be very good,'' Evans said. ``But with the playoffs scheduled the way it is, you don't have the chance to push it back. You really take the risk of playing in the rain rather than back it up and play back to back.''

--Hoops loss a net gain: The Rio Mesa boys' soccer team is glad the school's boys' basketball team did not make the playoffs. The end of basketball season provided the Spartans a goalkeeper right when they needed one.

Senior Isaac Leong was officially a member of both the soccer and basketball teams throughout the season, but basketball was his first priority. He only attended a few soccer games and never played until recently. Now Rio Mesa is counting on him to guard the net through the postseason.

The Spartans' other goalkeeper was one of the team's three players declared academically ineligible. Today's game at Northern League champion Righetti is Leong's third start. He posted a shutout in the league finale to clinch the Pacific View title and made six saves in Wednesday's 3-2 wild-card victory against Leuzinger.

--Untimely injury The El Camino Real of Woodland Hills boys must try to defend their City title without its leading scorer. Sophomore forward Jason Lara was injured in a Feb. 8 game against Granada Hills and is not expected to play again this season. Freshman Jeremy Hwang and junior Emol Dust were called up from the junior varsity in an attempt to fill the void. Hwang scored twice in the Conquistadores' West Valley finale against Chatsworth.

ECR hosts Huntington Park today in the first round of playoffs.

SOCCER TOP 10

BOYS

1. Birmingham (16-4-3)

City's No. 1 seed.

2. St. Francis (20-4-3)

Seniors determined not to repeat last year's loss.

3. Thousand Oaks (16-4-4)

So many ways to win.

4. Loyola (18-6-4)

Separate divisions means no more worrying about Mission rivals.

5. El Camino Real (17-4-5)

Defending champs looking to show No. 11 seeding was unjustified.

6. Chaminade (16-5-1)

No playoff experience, but Eagles used to exceeding expectations.

7. Calabasas (18-1-1)

Must stop Leonard Griffin.

8. Rio Mesa (14-8-3)

Come a long way since 1-6 start.

9. Hart (18-5-2)

Opens at home against La Serna.

10. La Canada

No. 4 in Division IV.

GIRLS

1. Harvard-Westlake (17-2-4)

No. 1 seed in Division IV.

2. Westlake (16-2-3)

Looking to repeat last year's opening-round win against Santa Barbara.

3. Chaminade (18-4-4)

Good chance of meeting Harvard-Westlake in final.

4. Hart (12-5)

Doesn't want to share the title this year.

5. Crescenta Valley (16-4-2)

Lost to Hart once; doing so again ends season.

6. Quartz Hill (12-7-2)

Finished league with another Golden title.

7. Canyon (18-5-2)

Good balance of offense and defense.

8. Chatsworth (13-3-1)

What a surprise - No. 1 City.

9. Agoura (12-4-2)

Winless in past three games.

10. El Camino Real

No. 3 seed in City.

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Box: SOCCER TOP 10 (See text)