THE COLLEGES / FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ : Time to Count Their Blessings

As they gather around their dinner tables today, some area sports people might want to offer these extra thanks under their breaths:

Cal State Northridge offensive guard Jonathan Beauregard for lawyers . . . and a timid administration at Northridge.

Northridge women’s basketball Coach Kim Chandler for not having to play another team barely out of puberty. Two weeks ago, the Matadors lost an exhibition game to the Australian Institute of Sports, 83-53. Four Australian players were 15 years old.

Shame on the Aussies. They ought to pick on someone their own size . . . and age.

Moorpark wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa for great hands--66 receptions, a school single-season record--to go with his blazing speed and nifty name. They all make for a Division I work-in-progress.

Cal Lutheran athletic officials for the wisdom to hire James Park as women’s volleyball coach. This season, Park’s second, the Regals won the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-1 record and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Division III West Regional.

Northridge women’s volleyball players and fans for first-year Coach Lian Kang Lu. The former coach of the Chinese Junior Olympic girls’ volleyball program has the Matadors (17-8) in line for an invitation to the NCAA Division I playoffs. The 32-team field will be announced Sunday. Lu got the job done without controversy.

The Oxnard men’s and women’s basketball teams for finally getting their own on-campus gym.

Valley football Coach Jim Fenwick for quarterback Jim Arellanes. The transfer from Northern Arizona set a school single-season passing record with 3,408 yards and will go for more when the Monarchs (9-1) face Rancho Santiago (9-1) in the Orange County Bowl on Dec. 3.

Arellanes for wide receiver Brian Comer. The former Chatsworth High quarterback shattered the Valley career receiving record with 129 catches, 45 more than Rob Mottram’s 84 receptions in 1970-71. With the bowl game remaining, Comer has 71 receptions this year for 1,548 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Moorpark basketball Coach Al Nordquist for the Twin Towers, Paul and Nick Foster. The 6-foot-8 forwards will make the Raiders top contenders for the Western State Conference North Division title. Paul is averaging 23.3 points and Nick 18.3 for the Raiders (2-1), who last Saturday lost to top-ranked L.A. City, 72-71.

Northridge football Coach Bob Burt, who seems perpetually perplexed about anything happening with the team, for the end of another unsettling season.

The whining Northridge football players for being associated with a rinky-dink program that tolerated their tantrums instead of bouncing them out. Can’t you just picture Lou Holtz around this group?

Area junior college men’s basketball coaches for those tall fellows from other states--and countries--who magically keep showing up at their doorsteps even though recruiting is not allowed.

Glendale men’s soccer Coach Joe Agoston for those guys who dribble with their feet instead of their hands and who wanted to play for the Vaqueros this season. About 80 players tried out for the team. The ones who made it are riding an unbeaten season (15-0-5) as they prepare to meet Rancho Santiago on Saturday in a Southern California Regional game. The winner will advance to the state championships Dec. 3-4.

Moorpark football Coach Jim Bittner for having a team good enough to give him his 100th victory. The Raiders (8-2) won the North Division of the Western State Conference for the third consecutive season and will face Cerritos (7-3) in the Strawberry Bowl at Cerritos on Dec. 3.