It was the league opener for Crescenta Valley (13-1, 1-0), which got a total team effort on offense and defense. Eight Falcons scored goals, with multiple goals from seven of those players, led by four apiece from Ashley Taylor and Cameron Campbell. The Falcons routinely would drive the ball down the side of the pool and pass across to find teammates who routinely found themselves wide open for the shot.
“We try to work the ball down the right side of the pool because we don’t have any left-handed girls and so we’ve got the cross pass that is always strong side,” Crescenta Valley Coach Brent Danna said. “But our big thing is always looking at both sides of the goal and creating opportunities on both side of the goal to score. So, the more we can cross the ball over the center line of the goal, the more difficult it is for the defense to adjust and for the goalie to make a block.”
Campbell had three goals in the third period which saw the Falcons score eight goals. Taylor, who was also a rock solid anchor in the middle of the defense, got the scoring started at the 4:06 mark of the first quarter with a shot from the right side after receiving a pass across the pool.
“I think our defense and our awareness were major parts of this game,” Taylor said.
The Falcons, ranked No. 2 in CIF-Southern Section Division V, held a slim two-goal advantage heading into the final minute of the first quarter before Campbell and Any Aghakhanian each got a late goal to take a 4-0 advantage. Each was set up by a pass from Benson who, along with Aghakhanian and Elissa Arnold, each finished with three goals.
