Warriors looking to capture Marmonte boys’ soccer title

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers KEEP AWAY—Newbury Park’s Grant Murray, left, tries to get the ball from Westlake’s Brett Berman during Monday’s 4-0 WHS win. The race for the Marmonte League boys’ soccer crown wasn’t decided Monday night, but things sure got turned upside down over the span of a few hours.

With a dominating 4-0 win over Newbury Park at home, Westlake tied Thousand Oaks for the league’s top spot and put itself in a position to control its own destiny as Friday’s regular-season finale at home against Royal approaches.

“This game was as big as all of the other ones,” Westlake head coach Bill Propster said after the win.

“I think it was bigger for Newbury Park,” Propster said. “They had to win the game if they want to win league. Even though they were in first place, they weren’t really in control of their own destiny,” he said.

The Panthers were alone atop the Marmonte standings with 26 points entering the match against Westlake.

Westlake, Royal and Thousand Oaks were tied for second place with 24 points each, although Newbury Park and TOHS had played one more league game than Westlake and Royal.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers THAT’S USING YOUR HEAD—Westlake’s Brian Jones goes up high for a header during Monday’s match vs. Newbury Park. Teams receive three points for a victory and one point for a tie.

The defeat to Westlake dropped NPHS out of first and put the Panthers into a third-place tie with Royal, which tied a struggling Agoura squad, 1-1, Monday night.

Following the loss, Newbury Park head coach Guy Sanford refused to answer questions abouhis team’s performance, saying only, “They came to play and we didn’t. That’s all there is, man.”

Newbury Park senior Philip Sanford said his team was flat.

“We were flat at the start and just weren’t moving off the baland getting good passes,” Sanford said.

Westlake senior defenseman Chris Dervin said he’s expecting a high-energy battle vs. RoyaFriday night. The teams played to a 0-0 tie earlier in the season.

“We’re trying to get a lot of people to come out from school,” Dervin said. “We wana big crowd Friday. It’s a lonicer when there’s people cheering for you.”

Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks matched up last night in the regular-season finale for both schools. Westlake played Moorpark, and Royal took on Simi Valley. Results weren’available prior to press time.

Because the Marmonte has four guaranteed playoff spotsand with the bottom four schools far behind in the points standings, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Royal and Westlake are algoing to the postseason.

What remains to be determined is playoff seedings and, of course, the league championship“The interesting thing is thatwo years ago we played Royain the last game of the season after everyone else had already (finished up) and that determined first, second, third and fourth place,” Propster said. “I don’t know if it’ll do thaagain,” the coach said, “but it’ldetermine first place for sure. I think no matter what we do Wednesday, if we beat Royal, we win the league.” Friday’s game begins at 6 p.mat Westlake High.