Short-handed Oaks Christian outlasts Oak Park
If the match had lasted the regulation 80 minutes, then there likely would've been no cause for concern for the Oaks Christian of Westlake Village girls' soccer team.
But with rival Oak Park scoring on a Lauren Kawamoto penalty kick in the 79th minute and the contest being extended almost an additional 10 minutes because of stoppage time, there were several anxious moments on the Lions' sideline Monday.
With seniors Melissa Dahl and Kelsea Smith battling back injuries and freshman Ally Courtnall icing a bruised knee, in addition to two other players being sidelined because of yellow cards, host Oaks Christian was able to hold on for a 2-1 victory, keeping the Lions in contention for the Tri-Valley League title and hurting the Eagles' bid for a repeat.
"The kids played through a lot of adversity (Monday) and they didn't lose their composure," Oaks Christian coach Jan Hethcock said. "They knew they needed to win and they responded."
Oaks Christian (13-3-2, 6-1-1) believed its quest for the league championship was jeopardized by suffering a 1-0 loss Jan. 18 at St. Bonaventure of Ventura and tying Nordhoff of Ojai 1-1 three days later. But Oak Park (8-6-6, 5-3-1) helped the Lions' cause by playing St. Bonaventure (11-3-1, 6-0-1) to a 1-1 tie Friday, giving Oaks Christian an opportunity to share the title with a victory Feb. 6 over the Seraphs.
"It's basically in our hands, but we have to win out," Hethcock said. "Thank goodness we got past (Oak Park)."
Jillian Stowell gave Oaks Christian the lead in the fifth minute off an assist from Cassie Williams, playing a crossing pass off her chest, settling the ball on the ground and one-timing a shot past Alison James. Kristen Clark extended the advantage in the 29th minute after a corner kick got knocked around in the penalty area, gathering a soft touch pass from Dahl and slipping a shot inside the post.
"I thought we played well in the first half. We crashed well on their goal and I was glad we got the two-goal lead," Hethcock said. "But in the second half we had to hold on a little bit. Even with all those girls out, I thought we did a good job of defending. But any time (there's that amount of stoppage time), you never know what might happen."