Finishing 2-0 on Thursday, March 29, the varsity girls’ soccer team smothered the San Marcos Rattlers with the encouragement of packed bleachers full with supporters and the Westwood Band. This win will advance the team to the second round of playoffs, as their hard work has certainly paid off.

Even though the Rattlers started on offense, it didn’t take long for the Warriors to steal the ball with intense pressure from the defense. The team passed quickly and vocalized effectively to keep the ball in possession. Ella Concannon ’18 dominated the offense and drew fouls from the Rattlers. Claire Gottardi ’18 easily ran in front of Rattlers to steal the ball from their feet. Both Concannon and Gottardi juked out attacking defensive players, pressuring the ball down the field. Players like Leah Martinez ’19 and Hailey Martinez ’21 had several attempts on goal, but the Rattlers’ goalie completed lucky saves. Deepti Choudhury ’21 accelerated on offense and outran opposing players to goal. Madison Larrea ’19 had several tricks to pass the Rattlers as they attacked the ball. She was able to strategically pass players and advance the ball while the crowds’ cheers echoed for her diligence. With 14 minutes remaining in the first half, a Rattler player kicked the ball high towards their defense, but Concannon reached it first and passed to Larrea who ran head on into the goalie. With a swift kick, Larrea earned the first goal of the night and put the Warriors up 1-0. Only four minutes after, Martinez struck a corner kick that buzzed towards the herd of players and was headed into the goal by Concannon (2-0). Martinez kept the team’s momentum as she ran past every defender who got in her way and prevented them from making any attempts on goal.

“The team played with a lot of composure that helped control the game,” Ryan Bowen ’18 said. “There was more intensity and we were really focused on winning. There were good connecting passes and communicating so the flow of the game really worked in our favor.”

Almost every Warrior cut off a Rattler to regain possession, as they put up a minimal fight. Their stamina remained present while the Rattlers’ depleted, the competition becoming less aggressive. Asha Samson ’18 controlled the defense by blocking Rattlers and creating a pathway for her teammates to the goal. They attempted many more goals but could not complete them. Their passing remained quick and effective, so no Rattler could steal the ball back without a challenge. After 14 attempts on goal by the Warriors and zero from the Rattlers, the Warriors won their first play off game 2-0.

“It was a very solid game and they dominated possession by living on their half,” coach Malcolm Framjee said. “Their teamwork has improved greatly. They’re all very close off the field and do things together as a team which feeds into the field, and as a coach, you can’t ask more from a team when they all love each other.”

Join the Warriors for the second round of playoffs as they take on the Klein Bearkats at Giddings high school on Tuesday, April 3. Go Wood.