Buena Gets Kicks and Squeaks Past Harvard-Westlake

For the first 40 minutes Saturday, Harvard-Westlake High appeared to be cruising to another victory, but in the second half, the Wolverines struggled to stop Buena’s offense.

After regulation ended 1-1, Lisa Engel, Megan Boys, Shemeka Alford, Ashleigh Garmon and Natalie Sanderson converted penalty kicks and Buena, ranked No. 2 in the region by The Times, won the South Torrance tournament, 5-4, over Harvard-Westlake in Torrance.

Buena (8-0) was pounding Harvard-Westlake in the second half, holding a 12-2 advantage in shots, but was unable to score the decisive goal.

“Realistically, I think we should have won the game,” said Coach Trish Butterbaugh of Buena. “We gave up one dumb goal. Once we went into penalty kicks I knew we’d win.”

Buena trailed, 1-0, early in the second half when Brittney Mcdonald tied the score on a header after a crossing pass from J.J. Toohey.

“We’re not fit,” said assistant Keith West of Harvard-Westlake. “I don’t think we lost our composure. We just got tired. They got the momentum.”

The Wolverines scored in the second minute when Tracy Lansing beat goalkeeper Currie Hunt.