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STAMFORD, Conn. Westhill High School girls soccer coach Dave Flower said he cant help but mention Jess Laszlos name after every game. The freshman phenom has exploded onto the high school scene with nine goals in the first five games of the season. Laszlo continued her meteoric rise Monday, grabbing a goal and assisting on the eventual game-winner in Westhills 2-1 victory over Wilton.
[Jess] is a very good scoring threat. Weve got a player who can win the game for us. I keep saying what she is doing great, Flower said. But the defenders and midfielders are doing great and putting us into great positions. All around Im happy.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, a Wilton player was called for a push on Westhill junior midfielder Nicole Pellicano, leading to a free kick. Laszlo stepped up to the ball with the calmness of a veteran and drilled a shot over the defenders into the upper left corner of the net.
That woke the Wilton offense, as the Warriors started to take control of the offensive attack. The Warriors got a little too aggressive, though, as Westhill intercepted a pass and Laszlo came up with the ball. With only one defender to beat, she found Pellicano, who sent a sizzler past the dive of the Wilton keeper to put the Vikings up by two.
The only blemish on the afternoon was the first goal Westhill has allowed all season. It came on a wild play with less than four minutes left as a corner kick came into the scrum in front of the net and was popped in the air.
Keeper Allie Souza came to catch the ball and collided with Wiltons Lindsay Knutson and Lauren Kozakiewicz. The latter somehow got a head on the ball and cut Westhills lead in half. It was too late for a comeback, however, as Westhill killed the clock to secure the win.
Honestly that first half was terrible. We knew Wilton would be a tough team, Laszlo said. After halftime coach just told us to keep the ball and keep calm. We have a really balanced team where everyone can contribute.
Westhill continues its perfect streak in the young season, improving to 5-0. The Vikings travel to Bridgeport Central on Tuesday before returning home against New Canaan next Monday.
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