Second-Half Surge Corrals Unicorns

The first half of last Wednesday’s game against LACES at Stadium by the Sea was eerily similar to one earlier in the season that Palisades High players would rather forget.

In their Western League boys soccer opener Dec. 18 the Dolphins let visiting Fairfax stay close and eventually lost on a late goal. A like scenario was unfolding against the Unicorns, as PaliHi led 1-0 at halftime.

This time, however, the Dolphins left nothing to chance, erupting for four goals in the final 40 minutes for a 5-1 victory that kept them in the thick of the league race with key games on the horizon against University and Hamilton.

Tyler Newman scored twice, the second after dribbling through four defenders in the penalty area and beating LACES’ goalkeeper two minutes before full time.

“This was an important game, Newman said. “We can’t afford any more slip-ups. We’re getting everyone back healthy so that’s helping and we’ve been working on our passing in practice.”

Ben Sack, Barron Chavez and Joob Sanchez also scored, Lucas Wetherby-Jonsson had two assists and freshman Rigo Galvez was steady in goal.

The game played out much like the Dolphins’ 4-0 win a week earlier against Westchester when they overcame a sluggish first half thanks to goals by Sack, Newman, Chavez and Tadashi Gietzen.

“We have more guys than we have spots right now, which is great because it keeps everyone on their toes,” head coach Dave Suarez said. “We still control our own destiny, meaning we’ll win league if we beat the teams ahead of us.”

Palisades hosted Venice yesterday and will seek to avenge its loss to Fairfax tomorrow afternoon.

Girls Soccer

Lil Seeley and Emily Hardwick each scored twice last Wednesday in Palisades’ 4-0 road victory over LACES, which dealt the Dolphins their only league loss last season.

Kiana Ferguson scored two goals and Katie Wilkes, Lauryn Wilson, Erin Ross, Evelina Van Norden, Elizabeth Seaman and Kaitlyn Parcell each added one goal in Palisades’ 10-0 win on Jan. 15 at Westchester.

Taymar Cox had two assists on 11 shots, Caroline Gluck also had two assists, Seeley and Caitlin Bremner tallied one assist apiece and goalkeepers Annika Lundberg and Amy Bailey combined on the shutout.