Weaver, Yorba Linda tighten Empire League race

Thanks to the late-match efforts of sophomore Kira Weaver, the battle for the Empire League title is now a three-team race with one week remaining.

Weaver scored the winning goal with less than four minutes remaining in regulation as the Mustangs rallied for a 2-1 victory over Cypress at Yorba Linda High on Friday.

"It's a great feeling and something that I've never experienced before," Weaver said. "We starting to get on a roll and want to keep doing what were doing."

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SLIDESHOW: OCVarsity Hot Shots 2: Friday's soccer, water polo

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The loss ended the Centurions' five-match winning streak. Cypress (14-8-2, 7-2-1) is now tied for first place in the Empire League with Pacifica. Yorba Linda (9-5-6, 6-1-2) is unbeaten in its' past six matches (4-0-2) and moves to within one point of both the Centurions and the Mariners.

Cypress and Pacifica will play each other on Tuesday, while Yorba Linda will host the Mariners on Thursday.
    
“We knew we would be fired up and we played well,” Mustangs coach Greg Aviles said. “It was a true testament to the character and heart of the girls and they want to be the best team in this league.”

Yorba Linda’s best scoring chance of the first half came in the 15th minute, as sophomore Allie Kolb produced an open shot directly in front of the goal. But Centurions senior goalie Cierra Whitmer made an excellent save on the hard line drive shot to prevent the goal.
    
Kolb managed to get free for another shot in the 17th minute, but the ball sailed over the crossbar.

The Centurions had a scoring chance in the first half, but a free kick from senior Emma Erbes went over the goal.   

Whitmer, who had seven saves in the match, made two big plays early in the second half to keep the match scoreless. She saved a hard line drive shot from senior Emily Jaimerena