Avalanche of goals propels Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer to victory
LOS ANGELES – Five players scored at least a goal, six contributed at least one assist and the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team bludgeoned its way to an 11-0 victory over visiting Ventura Buena High in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs Thursday afternoon at Occidental College.
The postseason victory, believed to be the biggest this century for the Rebels, qualifies No. 3 seed Flintridge Prep (20-4-2), the Prep League champion, into Tuesday’s second round against Culver City or Pete Knight.
“We’ve never had a score like this before,” Flintridge Prep coach Esteban Chavez. “I knew we were in good shape as soon as we started to play, even when the game was 0-0. We were in total control of the game and all we had to do offensively was break them down once.”
Junior forward Helen Schaefer led the way with three goals and four assists, freshman halfback Makenna Dominguez tallied a hat trick along with two assists, while senior striker Julia Gonzalez added one goal and one assist, junior midfielder Mika Celeste finished with two goals and one assist, sophomore Sabine Fregoso scored one goal as did junior Caitlin Fong, while Jenna Mijares tallied two assists and Molly Scott finished with one assist.
“We really didn’t know anything about this team, but we knew that we had to be ready,” Celeste said. “Chavez really emphasizes getting ready individually and as a team and to come out and play and we did that.”
The contest was all but wrapped up within the first 15 minutes as the Rebels accounted for 10 shots and five goals versus Channel League third-place finisher Buena (4-10-2).
Fong scored in the eighth minute, which was followed by a goal in the 10th minute from Schaefer, a score in the 11th minute from Gonzalez, another goal in the 13th minute from Celeste and a goal from Dominguez in the 14th minute that put the home team up, 5-0.
Dominguez scored in the 27th minute off an assist from Mijares as the Rebels led, 6-0, which led to changes shortly after.
In the 33th minute, Chavez pulled most of his starters.
However, the Rebels scored one goal right before the half as the loudest cheer of the day came when sophomore reserve Fregoso connected on a goal in the 40th minute off an assist from Scott.
“We’re really tight on this team and we root for everybody who plays,” Dominguez said. “So, when she scored, it was great. Sabine doesn’t get a lot of playing time, but she took advantage.”
Up, 7-0, at the half, the Rebels reinserted their starters and two goals from Schaefer and one each from Celeste and Dominguez to finish the scoring.
