SPIRITS CAN'T BE DAMPENED PARACLETE GIRLS FIGHT ON DESPITE STRING OF BAD LUCK.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

It almost makes them laugh now. For all the teams that complain about bad luck and having an abundance of injuries, a look at the Paraclete girls' soccer team probably would make life seem not so bad.

Paraclete's lineup has been ravaged by a series of unlucky incidents, but the Spirits remain upbeat and on track to defend their Alpha League title.

First there was Megan Jackson suffering an apparent season-ending hip injury. Then her sister Lauren broke her fingers and could no longer be the goalkeeper. Another player was declared academically ineligible and another is out for at least a month after being in a car accident. By the time the Spirits' top defender got sick at the end of December and coach Deana Jacoby heard the player's mother say she hoped it wasn't mononucleosis, Jacoby knew what was coming. The player remains sidelined with mono.

The current lineup scarcely resembles what Jacoby originally envisioned. There are now a combined 10 freshmen and sophomores on the team.

``We've been hit by lots of misfortune this year,'' Jacoby said. ``It's been much greater than anything we've ever seen before. We've gone through plan A, B, C, D, E and F. It's all such strange things, after a while, you just sort of laugh.

``With everything that's happened, the funny thing is, we've been able to make an adjustment. It's not like we haven't been able to fill the void. It's been, OK, we've had people step up.''

Although their overall record was just one game above .500, the Spirits entered the week 2-0 in the Alpha League. Several of the early-season losses were 1-0 as Paraclete struggled to score. Senior Jenny Alanzo and sophomore Stephanie Kneifel have since taken control of the midfield and guide the less experienced players. Freshman Rhiannon Catalano is progressing at sweeper to solidify the defense. The goalkeeper situation was solved by putting Megan Jackson in goal. Her hip hasn't recovered enough to allow the running required of a field player, but she is healthy enough to block shots, even though she had never played the position before. She is the Spirits third goalkeeper this season.

Jacoby realizes Paraclete has ``a ways to go to get to those top teams yet,'' but is encouraged by how the team has pulled together and improved since a 5-1 loss to Bonita.

``They've had a really good attitude and they're working hard,'' she said. ``We've got young players and they're getting used to playing with each other and trying different things. They got burned on their bad decisions early on, but they've learned from that.''

--Unbeaten, but not untouchable: Golden League girls' soccer teams don't consider anyone else for the title. Quartz Hill is such a dominant power, teams usually make playing respectability a more realistic goal than winning. The Rebels, who went 10-0 to win last season's league title, are again undefeated in league.

But on Tuesday, Highland proved Quartz Hill is catchable. Highland (7-6) and Quartz Hill (12-1-1) are both 3-0-1 in league after playing to a scoreless tie at Quartz Hill. Highland goalkeeper Meghan Stewart made 15 saves for the shutout.

The Rebels get another test tonight when they play at Lancaster. Michelle Hamilton helped the Eagles (8-8, 3-1) continue their scoring spree with three goals in Tuesday's 9-1 victory over Littlerock. If teams hope to beat Quartz Hill, they'd better do it soon, though. The Rebels' offensive power should increase when Kellie Cox returns Feb. 1. The junior forward is out for a month with a sprained ankle.

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Photo: (color) Quartz Hill's Shannon Murray moves the ball upfield. Highland proved the Rebels might not be invincible with a 0-0 tie.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News