CV offense stays hot

Solid passing sparked another Crescenta Valley breakaway, this time a two-on-none, in the 34th minute. The Falcons' Mallory Carcich played the ball down the left side of Burbank's box to an unmarked Jacque Phinney, who crossed the ball down the right post to a streaking Karina Costilla. Costilla knocked it in for a 2-0 lead.

"It's communication, everyone is talking and it works really well, especially when we know our plays," said Costilla, explaining her team's hot start on offense. "We have been working on our set plays a lot."

CV scored again two minutes later when Mea Zuiderveen jumped in front a Burbank defender attempting to clear the ball. The ball went off Zuiderveen and into the box, leaving her on a breakaway for another goal.

There was no slowing the Falcons down in the second half, as they scored two more goals off corner kicks. The first goal came from Lisa Kang in the 55th minute and the next was on a header from Whitley Boller in the 78th minute. Both goals were played in by Olivia Bird.

Defense was another strong point for Crescenta Valley Friday, as Burbank had just three shots, one on goal, in the game. Things have been going the Falcons' way a week into league, but Schulz knows they can't get ahead of themselves.

"We know that coming back from being league champions that everybody is gunning for us," she said. "We are going to get everybody's best game. The second that we don't do our jobs is the second we are going to lose."

Natalie Muller was a bright spot for Burbank at center defender. The junior spoiled a lot of promising CV attacks, but the Bulldogs defense still struggled while dealing with injuries.

"Right now three of my starting defenders are hurt and I am waiting to get them healthy again," Montoya said. "Overall, I think we played good, but we just got outplayed, bottom line."