Taking on the Cedar Ridge Raiders on Friday, Jan. 17, the varsity girls soccer team played their first district game of the season. Fighting frigid temperatures the Warriors fought hard through both halves and came out on top winning 3-1. 

“[Going into the game] we really talked about pressing as a team and really just finding the ebay passes,” Lanier Harvey ‘25 said. “Sometimes we can really over complicate things but when we play easy simple passes back and forth we are able to work it up the field and earn goals.”

The Raiders started with the ball but soon after the game’s start, with a little pressure, the Warriors managed to steal the ball and gain their first possession of the game. Keeping calm and collected through the game, the Warriors took their time to set up the right shot with passes to make space while holding possession. After a momentum stopping  turnover, the Raiders got the ball downfield but were quickly stopped by Kate Wyrick ‘25 and goalie, Sam Walker ‘25. As the end of the first half pulled closer, the Raiders held possession pushing closer in, to the box. But in a quick stop, Mia Wiele ‘26 got a steal and dribbled it back down field as she faced only a one on one between her and the goal. Soon, slowing her feet to juke out her opponent and to set up the shot, she dropped in the first goal of the game giving the Warriors the lead 1-0 to end the first half. 

“Going into the goal I knew I wanted to get on target but a little higher so the goalie couldn’t block it,” Wiele said. “That was my main goal and luckily it went in.” 

Westwood came out of halftime feeling energized and prepared to play. The Warriors started with the ball. However, the Raiders quickly regained control to make their first shot on goal of the night. But, Walker, leaping for the block, safely prevented the Raiders from catching up. 

“During halftime we talked about staying composed because we were getting very antsy,” Wyrick said. “We play well when we are calm on the ball so we really went [back] into the game trying to play slowly and move up the field.” 

After dribbling back and forth trying to set up a play, the Raiders got restless and began to foul, trying to open up a shot. Fortunately for the Warriors, after getting fouled,  Wiele received a free kick that she promptly made, setting the score 2-0, setting the Warriors in a true lead. 

“[after my teammate scores] we celebrate by running and hugging the person that scored or high fiving them,” Kylie Denton ‘25 said. “It’s always exciting when someone scores and it changes the mood on the field.” 

After the Warriors’ second goal, the Raiders got possession. Working together to pass around and get close to the box to take a shot on Walker, the Raiders made their first shot of the night, bringing them up one with Westwood, still in the lead 2-1. A key factor the Warriors had throughout the game was many key corner kicks, one of which resulted in another Warrior goal by Tayla Score ‘25 during the second half to extend the Warriors lead 3-1. Ending out the game, the Warriors held their own pressure while they stalled to run down the clock, finishing the game 3-1 over the Raiders.

The Warriors will take on the Manor Mustangs, on the road, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7:15 p.m.