Notebook : CSUN Soccer Players Spread Scoring Wealth

There’s a long season ahead, but Scott Piri believes that the fifth-ranked Cal State Northridge soccer team is playing better than it was at the same point last season.

Piri, a sophomore forward from Ridgecrest, scored a team-high 12 goals last season as the Matadors finished 18-8 and second in Division II behind Florida Tech.

This season, Piri is tied for the team lead with Jim Hofferber. Piri has three goals for Northridge (3-0-2) despite missing the Matadors’ first two matches because of groin injury.

“We’re all basically the same level so we play as a unit,” Piri said. “The scoring is spread around. More people are getting into the act.”

The Matadors will compete this weekend in the Nevada Las Vegas Classic, which features host UNLV, Texas Christian and the University of San Diego.

Flooded out: They say it never rains in Southern California--rarely in September, anyway--but that didn’t stop the Cal Lutheran women’s soccer team from being flooded out of Wednesday’s scheduled game at Redlands.

After a water line running by the women’s soccer field burst Tuesday, city workers were unable to stem the flow, and water poured across an access road and onto the soccer field, leaving a quarter of the playing area sodden.

“It was kind of a mess,” said Ross Haefer, the Redlands sports information director. “It looked like Old Faithful coming out.”

The water wasn’t turned off until Thursday, and Redlands decided to call off the game around mid-day Wednesday. The contest has been rescheduled for Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. at Redlands.

Just saying no: Steve deLaveaga, a former Cal Lutheran basketball standout, has said no to playing professional basketball--for now--and yes to playing for High Five America, a Christian team dedicated to fighting drug and alcohol abuse.

The team will practice for three weeks before undergoing a rigorous 23-day stretch of 16 games in October and November. The schedule includes exhibitions against UNLV, Memphis State, USC, Cal and Villanova among others.

DeLaveaga had been weighing options in Mexico, Australia and the Continental Basketball Assn. and may yet play in Australia after he finishes his stint with High Five.

Earning his wings: Former Northridge All-American Joey Kirk will depart next week for Wichita, Kan., to begin his second season in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the Wichita Wings.

Kirk, who owns Northridge records for most goals in a season (30 in 1987) and career (59, 1983-87), had a self-described disappointing rookie season for the Wings, who finished 23-25 but reached the MISL playoff semifinals.

Kirk played in 30 games, scored three goals and had two assists. He was handicapped by a knee injury and the unfamiliarity with the indoor game.

“I want to be an impact player,” Kirk said. “I set goals for myself last year and didn’t come close.

“A lot of it was just being a rookie--the playing with your head, trying to be accepted and not making mistakes.

Wichita will open its season Oct. 28 against Tacoma.

Teed off: Greg Maw has yet to miss a kick for Cal Lutheran this season, but, because he’s dependent on the sputtering Kingsmen offense to move him within range, he has had only three opportunities.

Maw, who made four of six field-goal attempts last season, booted a 25-yard field goal at Sonoma State but didn’t have a chance to kick an extra point when the Kingsmen went for a two-point conversion after their only touchdown.

Maw was flawless Saturday against St. Mary’s, kicking a 39-yard field goal and making his sole conversion attempt.

With seven points he is the team’s leading scorer.

Gary Klein and staff writers Mike Hiserman and Brendan Healey contributed to this notebook.