Westlake boys' soccer squad drops a grudge match against Loyola

The two may be located 41 miles apart, but Westlake and Loyola High schools seem to be developing an intense rivalry in boys' soccer.

Regrettably for Westlake, Loyola's had the upper hand in the rivalry so far by ending the Warriors' season at home for the second year in a row with a 1-0 win Saturday afternoon in the first round of the CIFSouthern Section Division I playoffs.

A year after losing to Loyola in the CIF-SS semifinals, Westlake was ousted again in the playoffs when the Warrior offense had trouble finding a way to score. Although the WHS defense played well, they couldn't stop Joe MacMillan from scoring off a corner throw-in during the 61st minute.

Westlake had a chance to tie the match in the 70th minute, but Cub goalkeeper Kevin Klasila saved Brett Berman's penalty shot.

"That's the way soccer is sometimes," Westlake head coach Bill Propster said. "We play great all game but lose on a funny shot like that off a corner throw."

Although Westlake was in the match until the final seconds, the team seemed upset with the officiating for much of the afternoon.

The match, of course, was intense, with both teams letting each other know early on that they probably wouldn't be getting together for a cup of coffee anytime soon. Westlake's Robert Iezza received two yellow cards while Loyola midfielder Conor Hearn earned a yellow card as well.

Westlake senior Spencer Kelley likes playing Loyola because of the fierce competition.

"Yeah, there was a lot of talking on both sides during the game, but I like playing this team because it's good quality soccer," Kelley said.

"They have a very good goalkeeper, and their team is a very good one that knows how to play. It's tough that we had to play them in the first round this year, but eventually we were going to have to play them. If we were going to lose to any team, I'm glad it was them because they are very good."

Westlake entered the game fresh after beating Cabrillo 1-0 in a wild-card playoff game last Wednesday. Though the season is now over for the Warriors, Propster said he was glad the team played its best soccer down the stretch.

"As a coach, anytime you have your team peaking at the end of the year you know you've done your job," Propster said. "It's tough to lose today, but I think we played our best soccer lately, with us winning six of our last seven games coming in.

"I'm very proud of the way the team played and the battle they put up. I don't think this team realizes how good they really are."

After the match, Kelley echoed Propster's sentiments.

"We are a better team than we believe we are sometimes," Kelley said. "I also don't think Loyola thought we would be as good as we were today. We definitely outplayed them today and had more opportunities; we just couldn't capitalize on them."

After the game, Kelley reflected on his career at Westlake.

"It hasn't hit me that this is my last game here, but it will soon," Kelley said. "It's a little sad that it's ending, but Westlake is a great program, and it will continue to do well. When an opponent sees Westlake on its schedule, they know they won't be playing a team that is just going to roll over and quit."

Propster said he would miss having his senior captain after he graduates.

Kelley "will be missed, for sure, just like all the seniors," Propster said. "He was a great leader for us that always worked his butt off all game."