Last-minute goal by Trang lifts Flintridge Sacred Heart soccer to victory
LOS ANGELES — With time about to run out, the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer team sought one more scoring opportunity.
The Tologs got the break they needed to pull of a stunning win in a Mission League-opening match Wednesday at Occidental College.
Amethyst Trang intercepted a goal kick and scored on a 30-yard shot just under the crossbar with 11 seconds remaining to give Flintridge Sacred Heart a 2-1 victory against Marlborough.
Trang, a reigning All-Area and all-league selection, got to a goal kick by Marlborough goalkeeper Kate Granger and lined a left-footed shot by Granger after Granger had made two impressive stops a minute earlier.
“It just shows that you have to play until the final whistle because you never know what’s going to happen,” Trang said. “I had noticed earlier that [Granger] kicked the ball in a certain spot and I just planned for it.
“I normally don’t shoot with my left foot, but it felt good when I got off the shot. It’s good to get that first league win.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart (6-2-3) had earlier pressed for the winning goal, yet Granger stopped Grace Lawlor and Marissa Venneri in rapid succession just in front of the goal line with about a minute remaining.
Thus, it looked like the Tologs, who qualified for the CIF playoffs last season, would be left deadlocked with the Mustangs (0-2, 0-1 in league).
“We didn’t play all that well, but we’ll take it in the end,” Flintridge Sacred Heart coach Mark Snashall said. “Amethyst got in there and read the ball well and got off a great shot.
“We’re going to have to play better and I thought we would after the victory last week against Notre Dame. League will definitely be hard again this year.”
Marlborough took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on a goal by Eliza Corbett.
Flintridge Sacred Heart tied it at 1 on a header by Fiona Stayton off a direct kick from Emily Gomez in the 12th minute.
“I got into the right place and got a beautiful ball from Emily,” Stayton said. “It was an exciting game.”
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
