Offense Is No Problem for Surging Westlake

Without leading scorer Sarah Silver-Hill, Coach Frank Moreno of Westlake High was concerned his team would struggle in the Southern Section girls’ soccer playoffs.

But Westlake took 30 shots en route to a 4-1 victory over Crescenta Valley in a Division II first-round game Friday at Westlake High.

Westlake plays Sunny Hills on Tuesday at a site to be determined.

“Once we score the first goal, it usually leads to three or four more,” Moreno said. “We were getting great chances early, but we couldn’t capitalize and I thought it might be one of those days. But that first goal turned everything around.”

Silver-Hill, who has committed to Washington, scored 21 goals before tearing a knee ligament in a Marmonte League game Feb. 2.

“I was kind of worried because Sarah scored a lot of goals for us,” Westlake sophomore Kelly Cochran said. “But we pulled it together [Friday]. We know we’re not going to have her back so the rest of us need to step up and do our part.”

Despite constant pressure, the sixth-seeded Warriors (15-0-5) didn’t score until 35 minutes into the game. Playing forward instead of her usual midfield position, Cochran bounced a shot from the top of the six-yard box past goalie Jennifer Burke into the right corner of the net.

Westlake took 15 shots in the first half and had eight corner kicks. Forward Lauren Baer’s deep throw-ins after somersaults gave the Warriors numerous chances in Crescenta Valley’s penalty area.

“I expected to face a lot of shots [Friday],” said Burke, a senior making only her third start in goal this season. “I wasn’t going to let anything bother me. I haven’t been playing because I’ve been injured, but I wanted to make the best of the situation.”

Unseeded Crescenta Valley (16-7-1) managed only four shots on goal. Burke finished with 17 saves.

Playing its customary 3-4-3 formation, Westlake took control early in the second half. Nicole Remenga one-timed a cross from Baer over Burke in the second minute.

Six minutes later, Baer scored on a header off a deflection of teammate Karyn Loftus’ shot to make it 3-0.

Westlake fullback Kathy Salmon had to leave the game after a mid-air collision midway through the second half and sweeper Katie McCurdy was issued a yellow card after fouling forward Melody Mawhinney, who was carried off the field and taken to Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks with a possible separated shoulder.

Jorden Stanley scored for the Falcons from 22 yards on the ensuing direct kick with 21 minutes remaining.

Cochran scored her second goal on a breakaway in the 73rd minute.