TORRANCE After a bitter defeat in this season’s opening game, the West Torrance soccer team welcomes Santa Monica on Friday.
Both teams came into the game with a 1-0 record and neither team had scored in their first game so something had to give way.
The warriors defeated the Vikings in a close battle 17-6.
The Warriors’ defense was the highlight of the evening, struck a shutout in the first half and forced three interceptions against quarterback Logan Ebnet and two fumbles. The Santa Monica ground attack wasn’t much different in the first half, only gaining 15 yards.
The running game for the Warriors, however, was the opposite.
The tandem of quarterback Ronan Taylor and running back Kyle Cascalenda combined over 125 yards in the first half, with Cascalenda taking a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, giving the home team a 7-0 lead. Taylor also had a decent outing, throwing the ball in the first half, completing seven out of eight for 50 yards.
The second half should be a different story for both teams, however.
The Vikings started to get some rhythm on the offensive in the second half. In the middle of the third quarter Ebnet threw a pass over the sideline and it was tipped into the air and into the hands of wide receiver Jonathan Lipshy, who went 65 yards for the touchdown. However, the Vikings would miss the extra point that would put the game on a 7-6 point line.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Warriors’ Austin Jones tackled a 23-yard field goal and increased it to 10-6. This forced the Vikings to make a touchdown to win the game rather than just a field goal. This would ultimately be difficult for the Vikings, because in the third and fourth quarters the defense of the Warriors reacted to the challenge.
The Warriors forced two more ball losses in the second half, and Cascalenda crossed another touchdown run towards the end of the fourth to make the game 17-6.
“We know who we are, our defense is an outstanding unit,” said West coach Todd Butler. “We’re trying to believe in the next game’s mentality. “We have [to] cleaned up, but I like the way our team fights and how our team prepares. “
It was also Coach Butler’s first win as coach of West Torrance.
“I feel good, I’m ready to play 1-0 again next week, we’re just getting started.”
West (1-1) will face Peninsula on the road at 3pm on Friday
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