SOCCER PAIRINGS: STAR PLAYERS FACE CONFLICT.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Four area high school soccer teams, headed by Chaminade's girls, received seeds for the Southern Section playoffs.

But will entire teams show up for Saturday's first round?

Many of the top players have a conflict. The U.S. Olympic Development Committee tryouts are Saturday and Sunday in Bakersfield, leaving many scrambling to decide what's more important: a potential college scholarship or a potential high school championship?

ODP brings together top players, and college scouts know this and turn out in large numbers. Yet at the same time, high school teams need their best players to have a chance at winning a section title.

``To make the girls make a decision is horrible,'' La Canada coach Mary Pat Durkin said.

Chaminade, which won the Mission League and is 22-2-1 thus far, is a favorite to repeat as Division III champion, but only if the team stays together. Coach Mike Evans said the team will discuss the matter today but has said anyone choosing ODP is off the team.

Evans won't attend Saturday's 3 p.m. first-round match against the winner of Wednesday's wild-card game between Lancaster and Ramona Convent to attend his sister's wedding.

Notre Dame's Lacey Nickerson also is in conflict. Coach Neezor McNab said Nickerson will be in Bakersfield on Saturday morning and likely will come back for Notre Dame's home match against Santa Ynez.

La Canada goalie Lauren Arase has decided to do both, her mother Karen said. Arase is the Spartans' only goalie and is needed for the first-round match against the winner of a wild-card game between Mayfair and Garden Grove. La Canada is seeded third in Division III.

If Chaminade's players stay together, Evans likes their chances to reach the semifinal. He expected his region to be difficult with the other Mission League teams, plus Calabasas, La Canada and South Pasadena. But South Pasadena earned the fourth seed and La Canada is third, putting them in other regions.

Two other area teams earned seeds. Hart's girls, who finished second in Division I last season, earned a fourth seed and opens Saturday against the winner of Wednesday's wild-card game between Moreno Valley and Colton.

Harvard-Westlake's boys, who earned a share of the Mission League title, earned a third seed in Division IV and open Friday at home against Azusa.

Coach Josh Budde said he didn't know much about the other teams in the region because he plays in tournaments with higher-division teams. Plus, Mission co-champion Loyola is in Division I.

``Playing in the Mission League, we feel confident,'' Budde said. ``My guys believe they can win it all, and I tell you what: After watching them win four straight last week, I don't see why not.''

Forty-three area teams in nine divisions earned playoff berths. After Friday and Saturday, the playoffs continue with the second round Feb. 24, the quarterfinals (regional final) Feb. 26, the semifinals March 3 and the finals March 6-7 at Gahr High.

The City Section will announce its pairings tonight.