Palisadians Power Wolverines

“Fab Four” Led Harvard-Westlake Soccer to the Mission League Title

The girls’ soccer program at Harvard-Westlake High has been a Southern Section powerhouse for years. Though not expected to dominate as they had in years past, the Wolverines did so this winter thanks to the play of Palisadians Lizzy Danhakl, Erin Kristovich, Maddie Lenard and Alyssa Garcia. Although Harvard-Westlake was upset 1-0 in the first round of the CIF playoffs last Friday, the loss could not erase a stellar season in which the Wolverines finished undefeated in the Mission League, outscoring their opposition 17-6. Palisades’ “Fab Four” have more in common than just their school and their zip code. Danhakl, the team’s senior captain, plays left defender and has signed to play at Williams College in Massachusetts next year. “They said this was going to be a rebuilding year for us,” said Danhakl, who lives in the Highlands and has played soccer since she was nine. “We had a great preseason and carried that momentum right into league.” Kristovich, a junior forward, scored three goals this season’one of them with 30 seconds remaining to tie Flintridge Sacred Heart and keep Harvard-Westlake’s undefeated season intact. Kristovich, who lives in the Highlands, has played soccer since she was five and played AYSO with Danhakl on a U-10 team called the Killer Klovers. “I haven’t decided on where I want to go to college yet,” Kristovich said. “But I definitely want to keep playing soccer.” Before enrolling at Harvard-Westlake as seventh-graders, Danhakl attended Calvary Christian and Kristovich went to Corpus Christi. Lenard and Garcia, both sophomores, also grew up playing AYSO. Lenard, who plays opposite Danhakl at right defense, lives in the Highlands while Garcia, a forward and midfielder, lives near the Via de las Olas bluffs. Both attended Carlthorp School on San Vicente prior to Harvard-Westlake. “We look up to them,” Lenard said of Danhakl and Kristovich. “They are dedicated upperclassmen who set a great example for us.” ALong with her leadership on the pitch, Danhakl stepped up to assist her younger Pali teammates in another way: She volunteered as the local contingent’s “designated driver” to and from campus, located some 40 minutes away in North Hollywood. “We’ve gotten really close during the carpools,” Garcia said. “We don’t see each other a lot at school because we all have different classes, so that’s like our time together.” All four girls also play club soccer for the Westside Breakers. Lenard and Garcia are teammates on the Breakers’ U-16s White team, Danhakl plays on the U-19 White team and Kristovich plays on the U-19 Blue squad.