PLAYOFF PROFILES : Fast Forward or Reverse?

Should she stay or should she go?

Danica Liberman ponders that question while playing for the Westlake High girls’ soccer team, which opens the Southern Section Division I playoffs today in a wild-card match at Upland.

Liberman began playing soccer at age 9 as a forward but moved to stopper, the defensive position closest to the midfield, as a junior at Westlake last season.

While her defensive skills have blossomed, Liberman has scored nine goals this season and is often torn between whether to hold her position or move forward and attack.

“Of course I want to go up and score but I know if I do I’ll have to get back quickly,” said Liberman, whose team tied Royal for second place in the Marmonte League. “The decision making is the toughest part of [playing stopper].”

The 5-foot-4 Liberman makes the right decision most of the time. She was Marmonte League defensive player of the year last season and could repeat.

Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton and Stanford are recruiting her.

“Danica’s going to be an outstanding college player,” Coach Tahn Hyun said. “It doesn’t matter if she goes up against a big girl or a quick girl, she matches up well.”

With the loss of midfielder Stacia Spangler to a knee injury, Liberman and goalkeeper Erica Ehrlich will be the only starting seniors today for Westlake (13-8).