Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Several things have stood out to first-year West High coach Zach Serovy in the Trojan’s first three games.

At the top of the list has been the grit, determination and toughness the Trojans played with to open the season.

Those were all on display on Monday as West High continued its strong start to the season under Serovy.

Senior Ava Garcia scored the game-winning goal with 13:05 remaining as West High improved to 3-1 with a 1-0 win over Class 2A No. 11 Liberty High at sunny Liberty High Stadium.

“I told our girls they have showed so much grit and desire this year and they’ve shown so much determination to get the job done and get us over the finish line,” Serovy said. “That’s been the biggest thing is we’ve fought every game and we haven’t quit once. It’s been tremendous to see especially this early in the season and with a new coach. They’ve responded well.”

With its win on Monday West High is halfway to matching its win total from a year ago when the Trojans lost four of their final matches in a 6-11 season.

Serovy replacing legendary coach Dave Rosenthal in the offseason was one of the few changes for a West High squad that returned 12 players that started at least eight matches last season.

“We have most of the same girls we had last year and we’ve kept together,” Garcia said. “We’ve known each other for a long time, we all get a long and we know how each other plays.”

Early this season the experience and familiarity is paying off thanks to the determination and effort that has impressed the new West High head coach.

“The way we play just shows their determination and grit and their desire to win,” Serovy said. “I can’t speak enough on how much they’ve worked and how hard they’ve worked to get to where we are.”

Both teams had opportunities to get on the board in the opening half on Monday.

Liberty High standout Rilyn Breinholt had a shot glance off the post in the opening half and West High sophomore keeper Lauryn Hynek came up with a pair of key saves in preserving a scoreless first half.

“That is the best she’s looked coming off her line this season and she was huge for us back there because they could have had so many more chances if she wasn’t ready to come out and get the ball for us,” Serovy said of Hynek. “She was ready to go and ready to come off the line tonight.”

West High controlled possession for much of the second half but couldn’t break through until the 67^th minute.

Garcia took a pass from fellow senior Maya Mendoza and slipped in a shot from the top of the box.

“My coaches told me to stay on the outside of the box and wait for the drop passes,” Garcia said. “It was Maya (Mozena) taking it down the line and I knew to stay back and she was able to connect it with me. She got the layoff to me and I got it right in.”

Liberty High (2-1) had a late chances but Hynek sprinted out of the box to kick a through ball away.

West High, which already owns wins over 2A No. 7 North Scott and 3A No. 14 Urbandale, wraps up non-conference play at 3A seventh-ranked Ankeny Centennial on Friday.

“It’s the mentality that is helping us right now,” Garcia said. “We have some really good players on our team but without us working together and having that fight the entire game nothing is going to connect but we all get along and we have the mentality we want to win.”

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