Westlake rolls over Fairview Park

A slew of early goals for the Westlake Lady Demons pushed them past Fairview Park 11-0 on Wednesday night at Dr. James Daley Stadium.

Westlake (8-1) scored four goals in the first 12 minutes of the game to pull away from the Warriors (2-9-1) early and they never looked back.

“We have been scoring goals this season which is nice,” Westlake’s first year head coach Dan O’Brien said. “Through eight games, we have 31 goals. Our goal production has been consistent.”

Leading the way for Westlake was Sophia Kontak, who finished with three goals, all in the first half.

“This year we have done a good job of playing more together,” Kontak said. “We are good at swinging the ball around and finishing each other on crosses. Better than last year.”

Kontak was also one of seven Westlake players who played goalie in this contest.

“It was honestly really fun,” Kontak said about playing goalie. “I was really excited about it. I used to be a goalie when I was little and it was fun to get in there and make some plays.”

The Lady Demons are starting a grueling stretch, playing five games in the next seven days, so games like this were they can swap out players constantly are important and their depth will be tested.

Westlake led 7-0 at the half and played their junior varsity players for most of the second half.

“It is good they are getting a chance to play up and it is good for them that they are getting to play and play well together,” Kontak said about the junior varsity players.

For Fairview Park and

head coach Megan Coyne, she wants the team to keep their energy up, even in games that get away from them like this.

“Just to keep their head up in tough situations and work through it,” Coyne said about her message to her team. “Work hard and just push through.

“We always keep win with dignity and lose with pride as a staple,” Coyne said. “So even when we are losing we try to be as proud as we can and as good of a team as we can and show what we can bring to the field even if it is not always the soccer side. Sometimes it is morale, communication and bringing the team together.”

Coyne jokingly added “I like buzz words.”

O’Brien coached Coyne in high school, so it is fun for both sides to see it come full circle.

“She was a fantastic player,” O’Brien said. “A lovely player. She had extreme skill and a very high soccer IQ.

“It is super rewarding,”

O’Brien said. “We had some text messages last night and its fun.”

O’Brien added “I am completely in her corner. She is going to do a great job with the program. They picked the perfect person.”

“It’s so fun,” Coyne said about coaching the Warriors. “It is such a fun community, especially when you grew up in it and being able to be around people that taught you everything you now and then being able to compete against them, it is rewarding.”