Harvard-Westlake Sneaks Up on Crespi, Wins Again

The sideline sound system boomed stirring processional music Saturday at the conclusion of the 1-0 Mission League victory by the Harvard-Westlake boys’ soccer team over visiting Crespi.

The teams shook hands to the sounds of horns and kettle drums, but the Wolverines’ triumph would have been better accompanied by a kazoo.

That’s because Harvard-Westlake is about as unimposing a soccer team as you’ll find in the region--but is rapidly becoming one of the best.

“That’s another team over there that can’t believe they lost to us,” Wolverine Coach Josh Budde said, pointing to the Crespi sideline. “Sometimes I look at [the opponents] and at our guys and say there’s no way we’ll beat them. But my players have impressed me and they get the results they deserve.”

Loyola defeated Notre Dame, 2-0, Saturday in another league game. The Cubs (19-1, 6-0 in league play) are clearly the circuit’s best team. But Harvard-Westlake (12-5, 5-1) is hanging tough and appears in line for second place and one of the league’s three automatic Southern Section berths.

Crespi (6-9-2, 2-4) was touted in the preseason after advancing to the Division IV quarterfinals last season. But the Celts have been plagued by injuries and inconsistent play.

“We had [Harvard-Westlake] in the first 20 minutes and I don’t know what happened after that,” said midfielder Armando Nila, one of the team’s 11 seniors. “We’re not looking up and passing quick enough. I just want us to play better, I don’t care about our record.”

Harvard-Westlake scored in the 33rd minute off a Danny Sable corner kick. Waiting at the far post was Matt Thayer, who used his forehead to hammer the ball into the net on a bounce for his seventh goal.

In other boys’ soccer games:

Chaminade 3, St. Francis 2--Alec DeMattos’ first-half goal gave the visiting Eagles a 1-0 lead and Scotty Bowman and Eric Hass scored second-half goals to build a 3-1 advantage over the Golden Knights (9-7-1, 2-3-1) in a Mission League game.

Loyola 2, Notre Dame 0--Trevor Mutch scored both goals for the Cubs in a Mission League victory at Notre Dame.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Chaminade 3, Flintridge Sacred Heart 1--Carlie Stokes, Mindy Wyatt and Kerrie Clavadetscher scored a goal and Jennifer Valentine had two assists for the Eagles in a Mission League victory at Chaminade.

WRESTLING

San Fernando tournament--Four San Fernando wrestlers won their respective weight divisions as the Tigers scored 247 points to win.

Ricky Aguirre (103 pounds), Joe Hernandez (119), Andy Moro (130), and Eric Moro (135) each placed first in their divisions for San Fernando.

El Camino Real took second place with 221 points, including a first-place finish by Anthony Thomas at 171 pounds and four second-place finishers.

Arthur Bryan at 215 pounds and Jose Gurrola in the heavyweight class captured individual titles for seventh-place Monroe, and Noah Fehrenbacher took the 140-pound title for sixth-place Moorpark.

GIRLS’ WATER POLO

Louisville 6, Cabrillo 5--Paloma Slevak and Kim Feig each scored three goals for Louisville (15-1) to win the Dos Pueblos tournament in Santa Barbara.

Newbury Park 4, Long Beach Poly 3--Katy Fick scored two goals, including the game winner in sudden-death overtime for the Panthers (11-5) in the Dos Pueblos tournament.