SOCCER GIRLS’ PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS : Memories Spark Harvard-Westlake Past Mayfield, 2-1

In the afterglow of a 2-1 victory over Mayfield High on Tuesday in a Southern Section 1-A Division girls’ semifinal soccer match, Harvard-Westlake goalkeeper Cari Schwartz remembered the pain of a year ago.

“We were ahead 2-0 and lost, 3-2, to Brentwood in overtime,” Schwartz said, recalling the semifinal match. “I wasn’t going to let that happen again.”

Schwartz was true to her promise against visiting Mayfield, keeping the Wolverines in the match in the first half with seven difficult saves until midfielder Alyze Lowen scored two dramatic goals in the second half as Westlake (14-0-4) rallied.

The Wolverines will meet Pasadena Poly for the championship Saturday morning at 10 at Gahr High in Cerritos.

Mayfield (22-5) dominated the first half behind the play of midfielder twins Katie and Susie De Lellis. But each time the Cubs threatened, Schwartz turned them away.

Mayfield finally scored in the 58th minute when Stacy Drellishak hammered in a rebound after a shot by Dottie Shea.

But by then, the Wolverines were beginning to get their potent offense in gear.

“When we get down, we realize there is a chance we will lose and we elevate our game,” Lowen said.

No one elevated her game more than Lowen, whose playmaking created openings for Westlake’s wings.

With 15 minutes remaining, one of Lowen’s passes along the left sideline was tracked down by Carolyn Miller, who centered into the penalty area to Stacy Schwartz. Schwartz was tackled from behind by Mayfield’s Kirsten Lassen and the Wolverines were awarded a penalty kick.

Lowen drilled the ball into the upper-left corner of the net to tie the score.

It took 11 minutes for Lowen to strike again. This time, she controlled a loose ball about 25 yards from the goal and fired a bullet into the left corner to beat goalkeeper Maggie Hafner for the winning score, her 28th goal of the season.

Lowen also had scored a game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Mayfield in December in the El Segundo tournament.

“Alyze has the ability to take it up to another level,” Westlake Coach Mike Osborne said.

“You can’t do that for the whole game, but she knows when to do it.”