HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYOFFS : For Buena, It’s Blowin’ in the Win

When the forces of Mother Nature are working against you, it certainly helps to have Lady Luck on your side.

That’s what happened to the Buena High girls’ soccer team Thursday afternoon as it defeated Mira Costa, 2-0, in a second-round Southern Section Division II playoff game.

With a 25 mph wind blowing in their faces during the first half, the Bulldogs (18-4-1) rebounded to score a pair of second-half goals.

Both scores were the result of some luck.

Ten minutes into the second half, Krista Janik chipped a pass into a crowd of players three yards in front of the Mira Costa goal. Sarah McLennan closed in on the ball, fell backward and stuck her left leg in the air. The ball hit off her foot and went past Mustang goalkeeper Marcel Levitz.

“I just stuck my leg out like this,” McLennan said as she demonstrated her technique. “Next thing I knew I saw it go past their goalie.”

Fifteen minutes later, Megan Munday dribbled alone to the left corner and kicked what she thought was a crossing pass from 35 yards away.

The wind carried the ball into the upper right corner of the goal just past Levitz’s reach.

“It wasn’t supposed to be a shot at all,” Munday said. “It was lucky, but I can use some luck sometimes.”

The Bulldogs will be riding their luck to the quarterfinals when they play top-seeded Harvard-Westlake at home Saturday.

In a previous match, Harvard-Westlake defeated Buena on penalty kicks.

Buena’s defense, which was led by fullback Angelina Sanderson and Munday, clogged the front of its goal for most of the game, thwarting Mira Costa’s attack and limiting the Mustangs (18-6-2) to eight shots.

Bulldog goalkeeper Katie Maxwell had four saves in the shutout.

The wind not only affected Munday’s shot, but played a major role throughout.

Said McLennan: “The wind dictated the game.”