SoCal DIII Regional will go through Flintridge Prep
History was made by the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team on Saturday and more history might be at the feet of the Rebels going forward.
On a roll seldom, if ever, seen in any sport by an area team, Flintridge Prep has won 20 consecutive games as it heads into Tuesday’s opening round of the CIF Southern California Division III Regional.
A day after defeating Garden Grove Pacifica, 3-1, in the CIF Southern Section Division III title match for the program’s first championship, Flintridge Prep (24-4-2) garnered the SoCal Regional No. 1 seed on Sunday and will host No. 8 Narbonne (13-8-1) in the first round Tuesday at 4 p.m. at St. Francis High.
The three-round tournament will not conclude at a neutral site, such as Warren High which played host in prior campaigns and was the site for the Rebels’ win on Saturday. Thus, Flintridge Prep will host as long as its season carries on.
Narbonne won the City Section Division II title with a 3-3 (3-0) victory against Eagle Rock on Friday.
Should Prep prevail as is predicted, it would host a semifinal on Thursday, also scheduled for 4 p.m., against No. 4 Independence (19-3-1, Central Section Division III champion) or No. 5 Corona Centennial (15-2-5, Southern Section Division III semifinalist).
On the other side of the bracket, Pacifica drew the No. 2 seed after its loss to Prep and will play No. 7 Mt. Carmel (10-8-9, San Diego Section Division III champion), while No. 3 Academy of Our Lady of Peace (21-1-2, San Diego Section Division II champion) will host No. 6 Mayfair (20-4-3), which lost to Prep, 3-2, in the semifinals.
The championship match is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.
The Rebels are on a 24-match unbeaten streak and have racked up some mind-spinning numbers with 147 goals (4.9 per match) on the season.
Brimming with talent and balance, the Rebels have myriad players with big numbers.
Senior Julia Gonzalez (49 goals, 12 assists), the 2016 All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, junior Helen Schaefer (28 goals, 24 assists), the 2017 All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, freshman Makenna Dominguez (26 goals, 24 assists), junior Mikaela Celeste (19 goals, 27 assists), junior Caitlin Fong (six goals, 18 assists) and senior Mona Cesario (three goals, 11 assists) have all put together sensational seasons.
Overshadowed by the video-game-esque statistics has been the play of the defense, led by senior goalie Lindsey Uteda, Fong, junior Yasmeen White and junior Arielle Guzman. The Rebels have allowed just 29 goals, 0.96 per match, with 15 shutouts.
Last season, Flintridge Prep had its greatest season until the current campaign. It advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals before making its first appearance in the CIF Southern California Division III Regionals, losing to eventual champion West Torrance in both instances.
Flintridge Prep was the first area soccer team – girls or boys – to win a CIF championship since Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy won the Division I crown in 2011. Flintridge Sacred Heart and St. Francis own Southern Section titles and SoCal Regional championships, but never in the same season. Flintridge Prep now has a shot at winning a triple crown – league title, Southern Section championship and SoCal crown in the same season.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
