LAST LINE OF DEFENSE— Westlake’s Amy LeFevre, center, jumps up to assist goalkeeper Roxanne Mula and block a shot from Mark Keppel’s Tift Chan. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers The Warriors are all about making history—and winning.

Westlake High’s girls’ water polo team defeated Mark Keppel 14-4 on Tuesday in a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 wild-card game at home.

The Warriors won their first postseason water polo game ever—for girls or boys.

“It’s awesome,” said senior Jordan Briers, shaking either because she was cold or because she was ecstatic to play a big role in a historic victory.

Jeannette Pasche tallied six goals, and a defense spearheaded by Briars and Amy LeFevre helped ignite the Warriors’ offense in the second and third quarters.

Westlake (22-8 overall) advanced to play Villa Park on the road at 3:15 p.m. today.

The Warriors still had time to relish the victory.

“It’s really exciting to take the program to the next level,” said head coach Farhad Ghaemi, a former standout on the WHS boys’ squad who was hired as an assistant three years ago at age 18. “It says a lot about our players. They are the ones who put in the time and work.

“We’re not league champions or section champions. But for our program, this is a huge step.”

Westlake started sluggish, scraping to a 1-1 tie after one quarter. Most Warrior shots grazed the goal post or were blocked.

Freshman Emily Kerchner helped Westlake emerge from its offensive funk with a 5-meter penalty goal and a long-range score within a 28-second span midway through the second period.

Kerchner, who scored four times on Tuesday, holds the school record for assists in a single season with 46 and counting.

In the same frame, Briers forced three consecutive turnovers, and Pasche converted a shot attempt to give Westlake a 4-1 advantage with 1:41 remaining in the second.

Maddie Lyon, who played most of the season on the junior varsity squad, added a goal before halftime.

Westlake outscored the Aztecs 5-0 in the third period to turn the bout into a blowout.

“Once we got into the flow, we started flowing and connecting with our passes,” said LeFevre, who finished with nine steals.

The senior co-captain has obliterated the single-season WHS steals record with 116. The old mark was 68.

LeFevre hopes the team’s success in 2010 will continue into the future.

“We’ve stepped it up,” she said. “Hopefully, we can compete for first place (in the Marmonte) next year.”

Westlake shared second place in the Marmonte with Newbury Park. The schools finished with 8-4 league marks.

Pasche, who also had four steals, is close to breaking another single-season record. The senior co-captain has notched 67 goals this season and is two goals from breaking the mark.

Westlake kept trying to feed Pasche the ball late in the game, but Mark Keppel double-teamed or fouled the Warrior.

“I never had that goal for myself before the season,” Pasche said of the scoring record. “Now that it’s a possibility, I’ll go for it.”

Although Briars hasn’t put up the gaudy numbers of her teammates, her six steals and defense on Cat Rojas—Mark Keppel’s best offensive player—were significant.

“This was the best game she’s played this season,” Ghaemi said of Briers. “It’s the best game of her high-school career, I should say.”

Cassidy Lang, Savannah Miller and Michelle Harvey also notched goals for WHS, while goalkeeper Maddie De Ronde had seven saves, two assists and two steals.

After all the varsity players and parents left, Ghaemi was still walking on the pool deck, perhaps in a daze.

“It’s still surreal for me,” the second-year head coach said. “I’m still letting it sink in.”

Chargers, Panthers prep for playoffs

Agoura is charging into the Division 2 playoffs with plenty of momentum.

The No. 4 team in the latest coaches’ poll, the Chargers will play Mission Viejo at home today at 3:15 p.m.

Agoura completed the regular season 21-7 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Marmonte League action.

That won’t mean much now that the postseason has arrived.

“The girls are coming in with a good attitude,” head coach Jason Rosenthal said. “We played right with the other top-five teams. It’s kind of anyone’s game. If the girls come ready to play, we could win it.”

The Chargers, who played and practiced without a home pool for five weeks, could face top-seeded Laguna Beach in the semifinals on Feb. 24. Other Division 2 contenders include Palos Verdes, San Clemente and Montebello.

Agoura could face fifthranked Montebello on Saturday if both schools win today.

AHS has already beaten Montebello twice this season, but both games were close.

“It’s tough to beat a team three times,” Rosenthal said.

The Chargers have been getting strong play from Savannah Fletcher, Emily Carson and Jenny Cutino.

Rosenthal expects Agoura to continue playing solid defense and put more time into planning for respective opponents now that the playoffs are here.

“We get a little more focused from game to game with what we need to work on,” the longtime coach said. “We still go hard at each and every practice. We want to keep the girls sharp and focused on each game.”

Newbury Park, which shared second place in the Marmonte with Westlake, is looking forward to hosting a first-round game today at 3:15 p.m. against Bell Gardens.

“We want everyone to come out and support us,” Panthers head coach Dave Gleisberg said.

Last year, NPHS played a wildcard game at home—in the rain. Today’s game-time temperature calls for 65 degrees and sunshine.

Newbury Park (18-10) has had Lady Luck on its side lately.

Sarah Galbawy scored the goahead goal in the Panthers’ 7-6 victory at Thousand Oaks last week. On the same day, Westlake lost to Royal, forcing a second-place tie.

Then the Panthers won a coin flip against Westlake to earn the chance to play a first-round game at home.

Gleisberg didn’t get carried away with the good fortune.

“We’re only looking at playing one game at a time,” he said. “Anything can happen, but we really have to do our best each game.”

Kayleigh Sobieski, Cheyenne Savoie and Eveline Van Brande have played well for Newbury Park all season, Gleisberg said.

The coach said NPHS is hitting its stride now.

“We’re playing good team defense,” Gleisberg said. “Everyone’s helping, everyone’s crashing. . . .

“Offensively, we’re spreading the ball around. No one’s been our top scorer above everyone else. That’s what makes us dangerous—we have so many options.”