SOCCER NOTEBOOK COX'S RETURN A WELCOME SIGHT FOR QUARTZ HILL.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The ankle is fine.

That's what Quartz Hill High junior forward Kellie Cox kept telling everyone even though she often limped during her much-anticipated return to the Rebels soccer team's lineup Tuesday.

``My ankle is just fine,'' Cox said after Quartz Hill's 2-1 victory against Highland in which she scored the winning goal to put the Rebels back in first place in the Golden League. ``The braces weigh me down a little, but it doesn't hurt.''

Cox dropped to the ground and stayed there long enough to stop the game in the closing minutes. As she got back up, fans yelled for her to be taken out and to ``save her for the playoffs,'' but Cox hobbled back to her position and played the rest of the game. She said the problem was leg cramps, not the right ankle that kept her sidelined for a month.

``I had a cramp in my calf,'' she said. ``I was cramping up throughout the game.''

Cox, who did not start the game, said she was initially hesitant about testing the ankle, but felt comfortable after a few minutes.

The return of last year's league MVP puts the Rebels back on track for what they hope will be a long run through playoffs.

``It was nice to have Kellie back,'' Quartz Hill coach Maury Cauchon said. ``She alleviated pressure from a lot of people.''

As much as Cox contributed, it was clear other Rebels could do just as much damage.

Jennifer Hinckley scored the first goal and Shannon Murray consistently found ways to get open and provide pressure near the net.

The two goals scored against Highland equaled the previous total the Bulldogs had allowed in league.

--No need to ask: Lancaster girls' coach Rick Acuna works at Highland High. He did not talk to Highland coach Lemuel Galvao the day after the Bulldogs' loss to Quartz Hill, but Acuna could tell how the game just by looking at Galvao.

``He didn't look too happy,'' Acuna said.

--Scoring machine: Stephanie Meek would be the leading scoring on most teams, but at Lancaster she often goes unrecognized. The freshman entered the final game of the season with 17 goals but is overshadowed by a record-setting teammate.

Eagles junior Laci Fults led the league in scoring for the second year in a row. She scored her 23rd goal of the season Tuesday to tie the school record she set last year.

--Going for a sweep: Quartz Hill entered the final day of the season on track to take the Golden League boys' championship as well as the girls' title.

The Rebels' boys defeated defending champion Highland 4-0 on Wednesday to improve to 8-1 in league. The lone loss was a forfeit to Lancaster. Quartz Hills initially won 2-1, but because a Rebels player who received a red card in the previous game was present, the decision was reversed.

Prior to Thursday's rematch with Lancaster, Quartz Hill had outscored league opponents 32-2.

``Right now we're playing the best we've played,'' Rebels coach Mike Kuper said.

``There are two things that make this an almost perfect team. One, I've got a very stingy defense - two goals in league speaks for itself. And two, we've got a very explosive offense that can score multiple goals at any time.''

Nick Angellilo scored twice Wednesday and Kyle Gookins had a team-high 22 goals going into the finale.

--Early ending: The final day of the Golden League season was moved up to Thursday from today because today is a school holiday. The girls were to play Thursday anyway.