Charles Rich
Scoring match-winning goals in the second half against local teams
has become habit forming for Lizzy Villa.
Don't expect the Crescenta Valley High junior girls' soccer player
to break her habit anytime soon.
Villa scored with about 15 minutes remaining and teammate Rachael
Rigamat added an insurance goal to lead the Falcons to a 2-0 Pacific
League victory against visiting Hoover on Thursday.
CV (11-9-2, 5-1 in league) completed a three-match series sweep of
Hoover (5-11-3, 1-4-1). The Falcons needed Villa's efforts in what
proved to be the most competitive match against the inexperienced
Tornadoes.
Villa, who scored with one second remaining to carry CV to a 1-0
nonleague victory against host Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy on
Dec. 20, took a low shot that bounced off the post and past Hoover
senior goalkeeper Rebecca Wingett.
"I didn't want to celebrate until I knew it went in," Villa said.
"I celebrated earlier in the match when I thought one of my shots was
going in the net.
"I got a great [pass] from Naomi Ehrlich and I wanted to
capitalize. I don't know why I've scored at the end [of matches]."
Rigamat closed out the scoring about 40 seconds later.
The teams played evenly in the first half, something Hoover
second-year Coach Brett Vorster noticed.
"[Thursday] showed us what we can do," Vorster said. "We stayed
focused for about 90% of the match, and CV capitalized twice because
we stopped running.
"We got caught ball-watching on their goals, and we didn't
capitalize on our chances.
"I'm hoping we can now see that we can compete against the good
programs, and maybe [Thursday] showed us that we can."
Hoover's best scoring opportunity came in the 10th minute when CV
goalkeeper Emma Dearman made a diving save on a close-up shot by
forward Catrina Flores. Dearman had five saves.
Wingett, a first-year soccer player, finished with seven saves.
She also caught a break in the 28th minute when Hannah Green's header
ricocheted off the crossbar.
"[Wingett] did a great job, so give her credit," CV first-year
Coach Cesar Hildago said. "Sometimes we aren't consistent, but we
were patient until the right moment."
The Falcons outscored the Tornadoes, 11-0, in the season series.
CV handed Hoover a 5-0 loss in a pool-play match of the Hart
Tournament on Dec. 27.
The Falcons then responded with a 4-0 league victory on Jan. 12
at Hoover.
* CHARLES RICH covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3228
or by e-mail at charles.rich@latimes.com.
