Heavy-hearted Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer records resounding win
LA CAÑADA — Flintridge Prep and Pasadena Poly’s girls’ soccer players met at midfield prior to Tuesday’s match at Flintridge Prep.
The athletes observed a moment of silence in a tribute to a player who was a former club teammate of a group of the Flintridge Prep players before taking her own life recently.
“I was very difficult to go out there and play today,” Rebels senior forward Julia Gonzalez said. “It is just tough to stay strong mentally and emotionally as we go through this.”
With heavy hearts, the Rebels took the field and came away with a spirited and dominant performance.
Gonzalez tallied four goals, including a hat trick in a five-minute span of the first half, and added an assist to lead Flintridge Prep to a 6-0 Prep League victory against the Panthers.
“You could see the players were affected when we were warming up before the game,” said Rebels coach Esteban Chavez, who also coaches the SoCal Academy club team. “Everyone deals with a situation like this differently. So I told them if they wanted to sit out or if at any point they didn’t feel like playing that would be just fine and we would understand.
“But they all played. I think playing in this game, not just playing to win, but just getting out there and playing to the best of their ability would be the best way to honor her. And for me to coach the best that I can to honor her, as well.”
Flintridge Prep (11-4-2, 2-0 in league), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division III, is attempting to win its third straight Prep League championship. The Rebels and the Panthers (3-6-2, 2-1-1), have battled it out for the league title in recent years.
Flintridge won the championship last season and the squads shared the crown in 2015-16. Pasadena Poly captured titles from 2013-15 and the Rebels are attempting to three-peat for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
“When we play against Poly I like to hype myself up,” said Gonzalez, the 2015-16 All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. “I think when I put more pressure on myself I play better. So, that’s the way I like to play.”
Gonzalez was able to turn the contest into a blowout in a span of five minutes.
Flintridge Prep got on the board with a goal in the eighth minute by sophomore Natalie Brown off an assist from Gonzalez. The senior scored goals in the 33rd and 35th minutes on assists from junior Caitlin Fong and struck a third time in the 38th minute off an assist from freshman Makenna Dominguez.
Pasadena Poly goalkeeper Isabell Ball made 11 saves in the first half, which ended with the Rebels up, 4-0.
“We have a few girls who have the ability to score and we are threats,” Chavez said. “And this team really works well together.”
In the second half, Gonzalez scored on an assist from senior goalkeeper Lindsey Uteda in the 55th minute and junior Helen Schaefer, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, struck in the 66th minute, assisted by Brown.
Twitter: @jefftsports
