Northridge Getting Northern Exposure

Cal State Northridge’s Big Sky Conference football game Saturday against Montana State in Bozeman, Mont., will be televised live on Fox Sports West 2 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Northridge is 3-3 overall, 1-1 in the conference. Montana State is 3-2, 2-1.

Northridge lost to Hawaii, 34-21, on Fox Sports West 2 on Sept. 6.

Rally time: Cal State Northridge students will hold a rally in support of the school’s athletics programs Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union.

The Associated Students contribute $1.6 million to athletics each year, but student leaders said they will hold back the money if Northridge eliminates four men’s sports--baseball, volleyball, soccer and swimming--that were cut last summer, then reinstated for a year.

“We want the administration to understand that if they can cut the four men’s programs, we can cut the funding to athletics,� said Jon Hatemi, Associated Students vice president.

FOOTBALL

Slingblade: Despite wearing a sling on one arm and not participating in practice Tuesday, Notre Dame tailback Justin Fargas and Notre Dame coaches expect the standout senior to play in Friday’s pivotal Mission League game against visiting St. Francis.

Fargas, who sustained a bruised rotator cuff in last Friday’s nonleague loss to St. Paul, said he was unaware of the injury until after the game and that he was not practicing as a precautionary measure.

Add Fargas: Asked whether the uncertain future of USC Coach John Robinson was affecting his college decision, Fargas, who lists the Trojans and Michigan as his top choices, said he had not given the matter much thought.

“I’m not even thinking about college,� he said. “After the season, when I make my decision, [any coaching change] will have already happened. I’m just trying to be a high school student.�

VOLLEYBALL

Tune in: Rick Tune, a middle blocker who set two volleyball records for Hawaii last season, has transferred to Pepperdine.

The 6-foot-6 Tune will begin graduate school at Pepperdine in January, and will have one year of eligibility with the Waves.

BOXING

Defending the belt: Hector Lopez of Palmdale will defend his North American Boxing Organization junior-welterweight title against Angel Beltre of the Dominican Republic on Saturday night at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Lopez, 30, is 36-6-1 with 18 knockouts and is coming off a 12-round decision over Mark Lewis in July at Las Vegas.

SOCCER

In limbo: Sarah Deckers, the Mission League’s goalkeeper of the year in girls’ soccer last season, has left Harvard-Westlake, which she helped to the league title and the Southern Section Division III semifinals last season.

Two Wolverine players said this week that Deckers recently violated school rules. A Harvard-Westlake coach said Deckers withdrew from school last week. Deckers, a sophomore who is in the Olympic Development program, lives in Canyon Country.

Hart Coach Oliver Germond said he has been contacted by Ted Deckers, Sarah’s father. Germond referred Ted Deckers to Hart administrators.

Calls to the Deckers’ residence Monday and to Ted Deckers’ office on Tuesday were not returned.

Force out:Sita Rampershad, the best defender on the Pepperdine women’s soccer team, probably will redshirt this season, the result of a sprained knee ligament suffered Sept. 7 against UCLA.

Rampershad, a three-year starter, is the Waves’ captain.

Hiring on: Chris Ward has been hired as girls’ soccer coach at Canyon, replacing Michele Braseros, who resigned after six seasons with the program--four years as varsity coach.

Ward, 31, coached soccer at Lutheran High in Ventura in 1984-85 and most recently was basketball coach, volleyball coach and athletic director at Stoneridge Prep in Tarzana.

SOFTBALL

Teaming up: Calabasas High will field its first freshman softball team in the spring, Coyote Athletic Director Bob Holycross said.

Holycross received approval for the team last March but was unable to book a schedule with the 1997 season already underway.

WRESTLING

Wrestlemania: Members of the National Wrestling Alliance will be at Ventura High at 7 tonight to compete in a series of matches.

Information: (805) 641-5116.