First-place Falcons top Hoover

LA CRESCENTA — Coming off a subpar showing against host Burroughs High on Monday, the Crescenta Valley High's girls' soccer team was running and running some more at practice on Tuesday.

"It wasn't fun, but we deserved it," said Falcons senior captain Mallory Carcich. "The effort just wasn't there [on Monday]."

Thus, when Hoover came to play on Wednesday, an energized Crescenta Valley was shooting and shooting some more with renewed energy and focus en route to a 4-0 Pacific League win over the Tornadoes.

"We're getting there," said Falcons Coach Jorden Schulz, whose team outshot Hoover by an astounding 38-3 margin two days after tying Burroughs, 1-1. "I think that it could've been 12-0 had we shot the ball better."

Nonetheless, when all was said and done, the Falcons (5-3-1, 3-0-1) shot plenty well enough to notch a lopsided win over Hoover (3-4, 1-3) and keep pace with the rest of the league hierarchy, as Crescenta Valley is tied for first with Arcadia and Pasadena, as the duo tied, 1-1, on Wednesday.

As has been characteristic of the Falcons this season, particularly in league play, the scoring came from a wealth of players, with Karina Costilla scoring in the 29th minute, Sharon Lee scoring in the 34th, Jacque Phinney scoring in the 58th and Carcich concluding the scoring in the 68th minute.

"We don't really have an innate goal scorer, so we have to use everybody," Schulz said. "It should be that way."

Early on, though, it was frustrating for the Falcons, who reeled off 12 shots before lucky No. 13 by Costilla found rest at the back of the Hoover net. Much of the Falcons' frustrations came at the work of Hoover goalie Yvonne Cruz.

"She's phenomenal," Hoover Coach Donal Kennedy said. "She's grown leaps and bounds, she's matured as a goalkeeper."

The mohawked Cruz' aggression saved the day on many an occasion as she was aggressive in tracking down crosses, corner kicks and balls played in front of the net. In all, she tallied 15 saves, with 10 in the second half.

"She kept them in the game," Schulz said.