Lou Bilowitz

When the chest pains get too severe, Lou Bilowitz heads to his crowded medicine cabinet and looks for the bottle of nitroglycerin pills. Although he's an expert at getting the most out of his boys' soccer teams at La Canada High, Bilowitz, 49, is also well versed on the dozens of medications he has had to take since suffering a near-fatal heart attack eight years ago. He knows nitroglycerin helps dilate his coronary blood vessels, allowing for greater blood flow to his heart.

When the chest pains get too severe, Lou Bilowitz heads to his crowded medicine cabinet and looks for the bottle of nitroglycerin pills. Although he's an expert at getting the most out of his boys' soccer teams at La Canada High, Bilowitz, 49, is also well versed on the dozens of medications he has had to take since suffering a near-fatal heart attack eight years ago. He knows nitroglycerin helps dilate his coronary blood vessels, allowing for greater blood flow to his heart.

Coach Lou Bilowitz of La Canada High was named coach of the year Friday by the National Soccer Coaches' Assn. of America at its annual convention in Philadelphia. Bilowitz, who has compiled a 168-12-20 record in 8 1/2 seasons with the Spartans, won the award in High School Division II. Brian Stevens of Centerville (Ohio) High won the Division I award.

The La Canada High boys' soccer team has won a Southern Section-record 49 consecutive games, but that streak apparently isn't the only one enjoyed by Coach Lou Bilowitz. He also seems to be benefiting from a string of good fortune. La Canada (24-0), which will play Corona on Saturday at Gahr High in the Southern Section Division IV championship game, has seven players who have earned Division I scholarships.

The La Canada High boys' soccer team has won a Southern Section-record 49 consecutive games, but that streak apparently isn't the only one enjoyed by Coach Lou Bilowitz. He also seems to be benefiting from a string of good fortune. La Canada (24-0), which will play Corona on Saturday at Gahr High in the Southern Section Division IV championship game, has seven players who have earned Division I scholarships.

Josh Henderson SCHOOL: La Canada SPORT: Soccer YEAR: Senior SEASON AT A GLANCE: Henderson has 39 goals 32 assists, establishing him as the area's top offensive player. The Texas native has signed a letter of intent with Duke. His anticipation and understanding of the game impress eight-year La Canada Coach Lou Bilowitz.

La Canada High boys' soccer Coach Lou Bilowitz, who suffered two strokes in March, said he expects to recover and coach the Spartans again next season. Bilowitz, 50, said he temporarily suffered partial paralysis and speech loss when the strokes occurred, but has recovered fully in those areas. "I'm 100%, just a little weak," he said. "I still have a blood clot in one of the chambers of my heart, but I'm taking a lot of medicine and it's my gut feeling that I will be back [coaching] next year."

Be careful, you might get what you wish for. The Palmdale High boys' soccer team found a sad wisdom to that old adage in the final of the La Canada tournament Thursday night at La Canada High. Pushing themselves through the tournament's early rounds with hopes of a title match against the host Spartans, the Falcons had their wish granted--and were then drubbed, 5-1.

In its second year, regionalization of the Southern Section soccer playoffs will again lead to many teams taking on familiar opponents. The Mission League girls' qualifiers--Chaminade, Notre Dame and Harvard-Westlake--are confined to Region I of the Division III draw. Santa Barbara, Buena and Ventura, the Channel League girls' entries, find themselves grouped in Region IV of Division II. Tri-Valley girls' qualifiers St.

Coach Lou Bilowitz of La Canada High was named coach of the year Friday by the National Soccer Coaches' Assn. of America at its annual convention in Philadelphia. Bilowitz, who has compiled a 168-12-20 record in 8 1/2 seasons with the Spartans, won the award in High School Division II. Brian Stevens of Centerville (Ohio) High won the Division I award.

St. Francis 4, Arroyo Grande 0--The Golden Knights scored all four goals in a 12-minute span in the first half to take the boys' Southern Section Division III crown at Gahr High. Pete Vagenas scored twice and Eric Johnson and Kris Cash once each, as St. Francis won its first section title. La Canada 5, Corona 1--Gaston Haupert had a goal and an assist, leading the Spartans to the Southern Section Division IV title at Gahr High.

The scoreboard read Visitors 78, Home 76, at the end of Wednesday's Channel League basketball game between Dos Pueblos and host Oxnard. Yet Oxnard Coach Henry Lobo didn't seem to believe what he saw after the Chargers' Ryan Holbrook made a three-point shot as time expired. "Now you know why they are the defending Channel League champions," Lobo said about Dos Pueblos. "You don't give the defending Channel League champs an opportunity to beat you because they will and they did."