The playoffs can’t get here soon enough for a red-hot Westlake side suddenly toting an unfamiliar piece of hardware.

With the District 25-5A championship in their trophy case for the first time since 2004 because of a 7-0 win over visiting Austin High Tuesday, the Chaps (12-5-3 overall, 10-2-1 in district) can now focus on what eluded them a year ago: a postseason appearance.

First-year coach John Campbell, an assistant on last year’s squad, said the title more than makes up for the disappointments of 2009.

“I didn’t expect this, considering last season,” he said. “I knew the team was talented, without question. We just had to overcome that funk of last year and move on, and we did it. We’re playing well, and now we’re district champs.”

While Chap striker Dillon Short continued his rampage against District 25-5A defenses with a pair of first-half goals to open the scoring, a beautiful goal that capped a splendid buildup highlighted Westlake’s dominant first half.

Austin High’s Fredy Nunez Cruz skipped through Westlake’s midfield in the 34th minute, intent on cutting into the 2-0 lead that Short had given Westlake. Chap defenders finally collapsed on the diminutive Maroon, and Vince Dutton flicked a pass out to backrow mate Jason Ahuja.

Ahuja quickly found Thomas Haws in the midfield, and the Chaps cut toward the Austin High goal like a machete through a withered vine. In a buildup that featured no less than seven passes, Ahuja, racing up the left wing, hammered home a pass from Tyler Richer for his first goal of the season and a 3-0 halftime lead.

“Beautiful,” Campbell said, when asked about the goal. “Tonight is probably the best we’ve switched the ball around all year. We played a lot of diagonal balls and played balls in space, and that’s what happened with that goal.”

According to Ahuja, his goal symbolized Campbell’s offensive philosophy.

“Coach all year has talked about working it inside and attacking outside,” he said. “He always talks about the backs getting up into the attack. I haven’t had the chance to do it that much, but it was fun.”

No other Westlake goal matched the quality of Ahuja’s score, although the Chaps had plenty of quantity to pick from. John Gianakopoulos triggered a scoring spurt that opened the second half when he headed home a pass from Tucker Hume in the 43rd minute. Hume then headed in a corner kick from Short four minutes later, and Haws followed with a goal off a 25-yard free kick.

By the time Dutton ripped a cross from Jordan Price into the net for the final goal in the 57th minute, the Chaps were substituting freely and sharing laughs on what became a festive Senior Night.

Austin High (1-9-2 in district) continued to struggle through one of the program’s worst seasons in recent history. The Maroons were outscored by Westlake 12-0 in two losses this season, and they have scored just seven goals in district play.