Hart Shows It Hasn’t Lost a Step

Even without Erin Misaki, the Hart High girls’ soccer team is formidable.

The Indians proved it Wednesday, getting goals from five players in an easy 5-1 victory over a solid Crescenta Valley team in Glendale.

The defending Southern Section Division II champions mixed things up, playing balls short, kicking a few long balls and switching the field well throughout the nonleague game.

“These girls are very comfortable with the ball at their feet,” said first-year coach Costa Nicolaov of Hart. “We can do a lot of things well.”

Although the season is just beginning, the Indians (2-0) appear to have already adjusted to not having Misaki, last year’s Times player of the year who graduated. They have outscored opponents, 11-2, and outshot the Falcons, 27-15.

“We have a lot of talent, but you are only as good as your last game,” Nicolaov said. “The first half indicated what we can do. Not to put (Crescenta Valley) down, because they are very good team, but in the second half I put my bench in and we weren’t as strong.”

Hart got goals from Ebony Lewis, Mandy Mansfield and Christine Marbach in the first 20 minutes.

Ali Pavoni extended the lead to 4-0 when she blasted a shot from 20 yards past goalkeeper J.J. Gardner. Katie Wirthlin knocked in a Pavoni rebound with less than a minute remaining in the first half to finish Hart’s scoring.

“We have a great team,” Nicolaov said. “We have a lot of depth. On any given night there’s seven or eight girls that can shine. Any one of them can be the star.”

Hart quickly caught on to Crescenta Valley’s game plan, which consisted mostly of midfielder Julie Herrold looking to the left side of the field for forward Rebecca Hidalgo. The Falcons (0-2-1) slipped in a goal in injury time to avoid being shutout.

“Hart is a powerhouse,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Bud Dain. “We are getting better and better every game. We learned from them today.”