SOCCER PLAYOFFS NOTEBOOK: GRANADA HILLS FACES BIG TEST.

Byline: Chris Cocoles and Heather Gripp Staff Writers

With five freshmen in the lineup, the Granada Hills girls' soccer team figured there'd be some topsy-turvy moments. But the Highlanders also knew there was enough talent to find success.

That's where they are today, getting another shot at West Valley League rival El Camino Real of Woodland Hills in the City Section Championship semifinals.

The fifth-seeded Highlanders finished third to No. 1 ECR and third- seeded Chatsworth in the West Valley League, easily the City's best.

Granada Hills' youth movement includes ninth-graders such as Jackie Kecskes, Katie Dever, Jesse Steinberg, Kelly Kaplan and Hypathia Runcie. The freshmen played a key part in a 3-1 overtime victory at Grant in the quarterfinals.

Kecskes and Dever each scored goals and Runcie was solid in goal.

``They've started working together because we've had different people at forward,'' coach Lynda Fritsche said.

``Now we have Jackie and Katie at forward; they're working very well together. (Midfielder) Jesse Steinberg is always a consistent player wherever she plays. She's awesome.''

Granada Hills has beaten El Camino Real once (at the Monroe tournament) and tied the Conquistadores in their second league match. Though young, the Highlanders shouldn't be intimidated today.

``I think we're prepared,'' Dever said.

--Revenge is sweet: One season after Ontario Christian knocked Flintridge Prep of La Canada out of the playoffs, the Rebels ended the defending Division V champion's season with a 1-0 overtime win.

Fourth-seeded Flintridge Prep plays at top-seeded Brentwood today for a berth in Saturday's section championship match.

--Going for 100: Reaching the 100-goals-scored mark was the goal for the La Canada boys' team during Friday's Division IV quarterfinal against Bishop Montgomery of Torrance. The Spartans, who entered the game with 95 goals, scored five times but not the way they had intended. One of the goals went into their own net. The own goal is the only goal top-seeded La Canada has allowed during the postseason.

An offense led by Eric Irvine, Lonnie Dietz and Nick Marquand give the Spartans (22-0-1) a good chance to get the 100th goal when they play host to No. 4 Diamond Ranch in today's semifinal.

La Canada has outscored its opposition 99-9 this season.

--The same but different: For the second year in a row, the El Camino Real boys' team is facing Gardena in the City semifinals. The Conquistadores hope the similarity to last year's postseason ends there. Gardena won last season's matchup 3-0.

``We're a lot different than last year,'' ECR junior forward Jason Lara said.

In addition to midfielder Ori Adrabi and goalkeeper Raul Calderon transferring in, Lara is available to spark the offense this season. He missed last year's playoffs because on a leg injury.

The No. 1-seeded Conquistadores (25-3) also get home-field advantage this time.

--Corner kicks: The Malibu boys' team continued to reach new heights by qualifying for its first semifinal. The Sharks (13-4-4), led by Jake Mehring, Spencer Robbins and goalkeeper Jordan King, defeated Crossroads of Santa Monica on Friday to earn a berth in today's Division V semifinal against No. 1 Pasadena Poly.... The Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks boys, who upset the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinals, are also playing in their their first semifinal.... The region is guaranteed at least one representative in the boys' Division IV final because Mission League rivals St. Francis of La Canada (21-5) and Notre Dame (16-8-1) face each other in today's semifinal at Notre Dame. Of the four local teams remaining in the boys' Southern Section playoffs, three are in Division IV.