SOCCER TEAMS GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN University Beat

Whither, area soccer?

UCLA's men have lost three consecutive matches for the first time since 1994 and are a loss away from a four-game losing streak for the first time since 1979. Once ranked No. 1, the Bruins now are 9-4, 1-4 in the Pac-10. They play at Fullerton tonight.

Pepperdine's women, after starting 9-1-1, have lost three of four West Coast Conference games. Cal State Northridge's women started slowly, made a late-season run but ultimately fell short of the Big Sky Conference tournament and finished 7-6-5.

In all cases, youth has not been served. Each team is young and has suffered through growing pains.

``We were very fortunate being an 8-0 team,'' UCLA coach Todd Saldana said. ``For such a young team, it was a bit of a burden to be ranked so high.''

The Bruins' problems start with the three freshman defenders. They make mistakes and opponents capitalize. And yet, freshman defender Nelson Akwari said he doesn't see the problems as freshman errors.

``We're definitely dominating teams,'' Akwari said. ``The scoreboard's not an indication. Teams are finishing chances that they get.''

UCLA's men and Pepperdine's women seemingly played out of their heads to start and now are back to earth. Northridge started like a young team unsure of how to score goals. The Matadors dominated Idaho State but couldn't score and tied 0-0. They dominated Weber State but tied 1-1, hitting the post three times.

By the end of the season, once they had found their scoring touch (exemplified by a 3-1 win over Sacramento State), it was too late. CSUN finished fifth and frustration lingers.

``We belong there based on our abilities,'' coach Allison Lee said. ``But a slow start in the beginning of conference did it. A team we beat easily (Sac State) is in it. A team who gave everybody a tough game but gave us nothing (Idaho State) is in it.''

There were some positive points, however. CSUN's six losses is the fewest in school history and the defense posted its lowest goals against average.

Plus, the Matadors dominated the Big West Conference teams they played, including leader UC Irvine. It bodes well for next year's entry into the Big West.

--Meanwhile: At least one player is having a successful year. Newbury Park graduate Casey Schmidt, now a Boston College sophomore, has shown an ability to score in the big games.

Schmidt, a forward, leads the Eagles with seven goals and two assists, tying him for the Big East Conference scoring lead. When he scores, the team is 6-0-1. His goals include one against then No. 1-ranked Connecticut (a 1-1 tie) and against nationally ranked Pittsburgh.

``The UConn game had just started, maybe 10 minutes in (actually 12),'' BC coach Ed Kelly said, ``and he was 10 yards behind the defense and scored. After he scored, he came over and said, `What was that all about?' Are they kidding me? How do they let me go like that?' They didn't realize how fast he was.''

Schmidt always has been fast, but this year he has improved his instincts. Against Connecticut, he broke the off-side trap. Against then- No. 7 Pittsburgh, he cut across the field instead of running parallel to his teammate with the ball. The cut opened him up for the pass, and he slipped between two defenders for an easy goal.

Unfortunately, Friday at 12th-ranked St. John's, Schmidt pulled his groin early and left the match, which the Eagles eventually lost. He also didn't play at No. 22 Syracuse, another loss.

Schmidt complained St. John's articifial turf helped cause the injury.

``It's awful turf,'' he said. ``I did treatment (Monday). I should be back on the field against Georgetown.''

Boston College hosts Georgetown this weekend, needing just a point to earn a home match for the first round of the eight-team conference tournament.

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Photo: CASEY SCHMIDT

The Newbury High graduate, now a sophomore at Boston College, is tied for the scoring lead in the Big East Conference.