Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer has to wait, then wastes little time routing Firebaugh

LA CAÑADA — Players on the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team were not sure if they would play their Prep League match Wednesday against visiting Firebaugh.

For nearly a half hour, the Rebels waited for their guests from Lynwood to show and some were under the impression the contest would not be played. But the Falcons players finally arrived and the game was started 30 minutes late.

With no warm-ups, Firebaugh was hurried onto the field, as the patient Rebels waited. It took a little time for Flintridge Prep to get its offense going, but once it hit its stride a rout ensued. Receiving five goals, including four in a row, and two assists from Helen Schaefer, the Rebels rolled to a 9-0 victory.

“To be honest, them being late threw us off a little bit,” said Prep Coach Esteban Chavez, who fields a young team that includes just three seniors and four juniors. “The bad thing is that they didn’t even communicate with us to tell us that they were late. Some of our girls didn’t expect to even play.

“When we were waiting, we warmed up and we had to warm up again and there was a worry that we were warming them up too much and they were going to be tired. Because of that, it took us a little time to get into it in the beginning of the game.”

Flintridge Prep (8-1-5, 3-0 in league), which is ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern Section Division III and came into the match tied for first place in league with Pasadena Poly, dominated the contest, allowing Firebaugh (0-7-4, 0-4) just one shot on goal.

The goal cavalcade began for the Rebels in the sixth minute when Julia Gonzalez (one goal, three assists) received a cross from Schaefer and put the ball past Firebaugh goalkeeper Andrea Sanchez to get the Rebels on the board.

What followed was a goal-scoring clinic by Schaefer, who tallied scores in the eighth, 16th, 20th and 27th minutes to stake Flintridge Prep to a 5-0 advantage.

“We have a lot of talent on this team and we have girls who can really play,” Schaefer said. “We just all work so well together and we’ve clicked as a team. It’s nice to have that kind of talent to play alongside.”

Mikaela Celeste (two goals, one assist) scored on an assist from Mona Cesario in the 33rd minute, Arielle Guzman found the back of the net in the 36th minute and Cesario scored just before halftime to send the Rebels into the break with an 8-0 lead.

“I think that we just played very good soccer today,” Chavez said. “I think we play a style that’s not predictable and teams really have trouble with that. …I think that we just did a great job at taking what we’ve learned in practice and doing that on the field during a game.”

In the second half, which was halted eight minutes early by agreement of both teams, Schaefer scored two minutes in to give Flintridge Prep a 9-0 lead. Schaefer then left the game as Chavez cleared his bench.

The only shot from Firebaugh came in the 26th minute by Lucia Gaspar, but the effort was stopped by goalkeeper Lindsay Uteda.