Long, late throw-in leads to heartbreaking loss for Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer

LA CAÑADA — One mighty throw and one terrific kick was all that separated the upstart Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team from rival and three-time reigning Prep League champion Pasadena Poly.

With first place on the line at Flintridge Prep on Friday afternoon, the Rebels and Panthers were deadlocked at a goal apiece before a phenomenal throw-in from Poly’s Annie Winton covered the majority of the width of the field and found Alex Treister, who sent a rocket from the right side inside the near post in the 79th minute for a 2-1 Poly win over Prep.

“It’s sad that a long throw-in could end the game. That’s a weapon. That’s the difference-maker,” said Rebels Coach Esteban Chavez, whose team fell to 11-2-5, 5-1 in league. “If I had it, I would use it.”

Prep is still very much a young team with just three seniors on the squad and more than held its own, outshooting Poly, 14-9, but it was the Panthers who emerged victorious for their 17th consecutive league win, extending their league unbeaten streak to 39 matches.

“We don’t talk about that kind of stuff,” said Poly Coach Pat Gray, whose Panthers improved to 15-2-2 overall and 6-0 in league. “It’s Poly-Prep, so I don’t need to ramp it up anymore than it’s going to be.”

The Rebels’ last win against Poly, which is currently ranked seventh in CIF Southern Section Division III and has won eight matches in a row overall, came Feb. 1, 2012. That was also the last league loss for Poly before it began its current streak.

The last time Poly was tied in a league match was also against Prep, which came on Feb. 11, 2014.

It looked like the Rebels and Panthers were headed for another stalemate until Winton took her fateful throw.

Even still, the Rebels had one last gasp as they drew a free kick from roughly 25 yards away that was taken by Katherine Pinney, but it was saved by Mia Fernandez. Seconds later the whistle blew to end the match.

“She kind of saved us today,” said Gray of Fernandez, who had nine saves and might well have done her best work with her aggression by coming out early to stop the Rebels’ best scoring chances before they came to fruition. “She has outstanding games all the time, but this was particularly outstanding.”

Led by the stellar defensive efforts of juniors Hannah Barakat and Maia Cohen, the Rebels’ backline held strong against the Panthers as the teams went into halftime scoreless, though the Rebels had the upper hand in opportunities.

Poly finally put the scoreboard to use when Catalina Alonso took a shot in space from roughly 25 yards out that dropped in for a 1-0 lead with just more than 31 minutes to play.

Much of the time, the Rebels were forced to play a longer game as the Panthers possessed a size advantage.

“They just make it super difficult. We didn’t have time to play,” Chavez said of Poly, which continually swarmed to the ball in impressive fashion. “We’re a super young team and having to play against experience like that, we really held our own.”

The Rebels once again held their own on the scoreboard when sophomore Julia Gonzalez got behind the backline and drew a foul. Pinney took a free kick that deflected off the wall and found its way to Gonzalez, who quickly tapped a pass right to freshman forward Helen Schaefer, who poked in a 1-1 tie with 13 minutes to play.

Sophomore Mona Cesario was also impressive on the offensive end, but the size and tenacity of the Poly defense coupled with the clutch play of Fernandez nullified it.

“A typical Poly-Prep game,” Gray said. “Very much could’ve gone either way. [Flintridge Prep] is a very talented team.”

The Rebels, who have now gone 0-5-2 in their last seven matches with Poly and had their seven-match winning streak broken, still have a shot at evening things up in the standings.

Thus, as heartbreaking as a final-minute defeat was, Chavez is confident his team has already moved on.

“Of course it stunk to lose like that,” Chavez said. “But our girls are stronger than that. They’ve already put it behind them. If we take care of business and win out, the worst thing that can happen is we’re co-champs.”