Buena Girls Scare Up Another Victory, 2-1

It was tense on the Buena High sideline.

Crescenta Valley was giving the undefeated Bulldogs all they could handle and then some. Parents were fidgeting and complaining loudly over fouls.

Buena hadn’t been tested like this since it tied Louisville in the opening round of the Simi Valley tournament over Christmas break.

The Bulldogs have routed opponents since, strolling unchallenged through the Channel League.

The Falcons were game but in the end, it was Buena prevailing, 2-1, behind two goals from forward Ashleigh Garmon in a nonleague nonleague girls’ soccer game Saturday.

“This game was good for us,” Garmon said. “They were physical. When it comes to [the Southern Section playoffs] all the teams are physical. Last year we weren’t ready for it and we ended up losing to Walnut in the quarterfinals. This was a good preparation for us.

“They’re the best team we’ve played. They had a lot of speed, are very physical and had good combinations.”

The Bulldogs (24-0) remained the only undefeated team in the region at and extended the region’s longest winning streak. The Falcons’ had their unbeaten streak snapped at 14 games.

Buena has outscored opponents, 94-14.

“They are the best team we’ve seen this year,” said Coach Bud Dain of Crescenta Valley (12-3-3). “We would have had to do every thing right to win this game. They are a very good team.”

Buena controlled much of the offensive flow, outshooting the Falcons, 22-4.

But Crescenta Valley shocked the Bulldogs taking a 1-0 lead on Julie Herrold’s penalty kick in the 16th minute.

The penalty kick was awarded after Rebecca Hidalgo was tripped in the penalty box by a Buena defender.

“I think we surprised them,” Dain said. “I think they thought they were playing an OK team and we caught them off guard. I think we played as good as we could play today. I’m really proud of the girls.”

Garmon tied the game after taking a pass from Lisa Engel and beating goalkeeper Jennifer Burke in the 34th minute.

Garmon struck again in injury time at the end of the first half, taking a pass from Natalie Sanderson and beating a Falcons’ defender before slipping a ball to the left of Burke.

“I got a great pass,” said Garmon, who has 18 goals, two behind Sanderson. “At first I touched it in front of her and I thought I messed it up. I didn’t touch it to where I wanted it, but it ended up working out.”

Buena offense had an array erray on of chances to score, but shots sailed high or wide and seven big saves from Burke kept the game close.

Paraclete 3, Pasadena Marshall 1--Paul Smith, recently promoted from the junior varsity, scored twice and has three goals in two games for the Spirits (10-2-3, 3-0-2), who won an Alpha League game at Paraclete.

Paul Watts, Paraclete’s leading scorer with nine goals, also scored.