Westlake boys’ soccer squad has a new approach
Offense has been explosive
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers RIVALRY RENEWED—Westlake defender Chris Dervin battles Thousand Oaks midfielder Russell Jackson during last weekend’s Marmonte League showdown. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. The Warriors’ record stood at 6-0-2 overall and 1-0-1 in league following the game vs. Thousand Oaks.

Last season the Westlake boys’ soccer team captured the Marmonte League title behind a stout defense which produced 18 shutouts.

To repeat as league champions this year, head coach Bill Propster said the Warriors will have to lean heavily on an explosive offense to make up for a defense that’s now in transition after losing several key players on the back line.

“Comparing this year’s team to last year’s, I don’t think our defense is quite as strong yet,” Prosper said. “Last year’s team had played together for two years, pretty much the whole team had played together for two years. They knew what they were doing.”

“This year it’s a little bit of a rebuilding process,” the 10-year head coach said. “But I think offensively we’re better than last year. We’re scoring more goals. We’re scoring in every game. We’re getting opportunities and finishing at a high percentage.”

One significant personnel decision for the Warriors during the offseason was to move J.T. Valine out of goal and onto the front line where he currently serves as a forward.

Valine was an All-League goalie a season ago. He currently leads the team in goals scored.

“J.T. runs like a 4.5 (40-yard dash). He can jump 30-something inches high,” Propster said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete. When he runs fast, you can hear the wind.”

Valine, one of Westlake’s six seniors, said this year’s Warrior squad has a nice combination of senior leadership and hungry young players who are looking to make an impact on the field.

“The freshman and seniors usually wouldn’t mix,” Valine said. “But here we’re friends at school and that helps out on the soccer field. We’ve all become pretty close even though we’re all different ages.”

With Valine now on the front line, sophomore goalies Jordan Mannisto and Max Susa have split time in between the pipes. Mannisto is a transfer from Oak Park. Susa was a backup on the varsity team last year. Propster said the two are comparable players.

“I like the idea of giving them both playing time,” Prosper said. “Neither one of them has made any mistakes. They both have made good saves and have come up big.”

The strength of the Warriors, said Prosper, is in the team’s midfield, where ultra-quick ball handlers Nicky Alinan and Brian Jones have excelled on the varsity level for several seasons.

“(Alinan) has been our most consistent guy in the midfield,” the coach said. “He works his (backside) off. Everybody notices him. By far, this is the best I’ve seen him play.”

Jones has been slowed somewhat by an injured groin.

Senior Chris Dervin is the returning Defensive Player of the Year for the Marmonte. Part of his job description this year has been to hold the young Warrior defense intact.

“He holds us together,” Prosper said. “He’s a great soccer player. He’s really fast and reads the game well. He’s got impeccable touch. Everybody on our bench kind of ohhs and ahhs about him.”

Defenseman Jared Flaum, a transfer from Calabasas, is a player who’s also developed an important role in Westlake’s new-look defense.

According to Prosper, senior forward Alex Olszewski is another player to watch this season. Olszewski has the ability to beat any defense with his one-on-one ball handling skills, the coach said.

Forward Connor Burke and defenseman Jordan Ylauan are the lone Warrior freshmen on the varsity roster.

Burke has made quite an impression on his teammates so far.

“(Burke’s) an amazing player,” Alinan said. “He’ll definitely be the best player in the league in his senior year.”

Following last Saturday’s 1-1 tie against Thousand Oaks, Westlake’s record stood at 6-0-2.

While their undefeated start wasn’t entirely expected, especially with so many new faces on the team, the Warriors remain confident they can ultimately surpass last season’s squad that advanced to the CIF quarterfinals. “We’re just going for the No. 1 spot in CIF—that’s all we’re doing,” Alinan said. “Our team has the drive and determination to do so and I think we can do it. I think we’re the best team in the league.”

Westlake hosted the Oak Park Eagles last night. The final score wasn’t available prior to press time. The Warriors will now take an extended break before returning to the field for the bulk of their league schedule in early January.