All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year: Sequel is even better than original for Flintridge Prep’s Schaefer
Upon the first season in which Helen Schaefer set phenomenal foot on the Flintridge Prep soccer field, astounding statistics and surprising Rebels success followed.
But a season of such stunningly astonishing numbers was obviously something that could not be maintained. And with a defense marked by departures and inexperience, obviously the Rebels’ success would take a hit, too.
However, that was hardly the case for Schaefer and the Rebels in a 2016-17 campaign that was arguably the greatest in Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer history, one in which goals were scored in bunches and rarely given up en route to a Prep League title, a CIF Southern Section Division III semifinal ascent and a CIF Southern California Division III Regional semifinal finish.
It was one in which Schaefer somehow exceeded the highest of expectations put forth by a fabulous freshman season with an even more sensational sophomore campaign, one that concluded with her standing as the 2017 All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year, as voted by the sports writers of the Glendale News-Press, La Cañada Valley Sun and Burbank Leader.
“We could always count on Helen to be there for a run or to check in for a pass,” sophomore teammate Caitlin Fong says. “We could always count on her to do something different.
“Definitely, all the hard work she put in made a huge impact.”
Across the area, goals came in abundance from the likes of Burbank High’s Kira Bochard and Schaefer’s teammate Mikaela Celeste, among others, but it was Schaefer, a forward, who shared the area-high of 31 goals with teammate Julia Gonzalez and Crescenta Valley High’s Brianna McReynolds.
Coupled with those 31 goals were an area-leading 30 assists to equate to a 30-30 season that helped the Rebels produce an outright league championship (their first since 2012), program records of 23 wins and 113 goals, a run to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals (for the first time since the 2001-2002 season) and a berth in the CIF Southern California Regional Division III semis in the program’s first appearance.
“It was really amazing,” says Gonzalez, last year’s All-Area Player of the Year, of the season. “Last year was really amazing, too, but it was even better this year. It was a great feeling because all the hard work paid off.”
“The kids at Prep give her so much credit, even the boys. You would think she would be big-headed, but she’s not.”
— Esteban Chavez, Flintrdge Prep Coach
Schaefer’s final season tally was 92 points as she scored in 24 of the 30 games she played in with six goals and four assists coming in six postseason matches.
“Her soccer IQ; understanding the game [is one of her best assets],” says Rebels Coach Esteban Chavez, the All-Area Girls’ Soccer Coach of the Year. “But also her movement without the ball. Her movement without the ball is really what makes her so dangerous.”
Schaefer’s numbers are impressive enough on their own, but considering the splash she made with a school-record 38 goals as a freshman along with 14 assists, it was seemingly unfathomable that she could follow up with numbers that even rivaled her rookie campaign, much less exceeded them.
“I’m not surprised to be honest with you, but I wasn’t expecting it,” Chavez says. “Thirty-one goals, 30 assists, it’s just so balanced; it’s ridiculous.
“I didn’t want to put that pressure on her [of repeating last season’s statistics], but I’m not surprised, but I’m really impressed.”
While Schaefer scored a school-record 38 goals last season, Gonzalez tallied a school-record 32 assists along with 24 goals, so the building blocks returned up top for Rebels success.
Gonzalez (31 goals, 22 assists), Celeste (23 goals, 16 assists), Mona Cesario (seven goals, nine assists) and Natalie Brown (seven goals, seven assists) were all key contributors to a high-flying Rebels offense. And a defense that had lost some key starters who were expected to return became its own statistical splendor with 17 shutouts.
Of course, it is the combination and chemistry of Schaefer and Gonzalez, a junior, that has emerged as one of the greatest one-two scoring punches in area history.
“It definitely amazes me how much we continue to get closer,” Gonzalez says. “How our bond and chemistry has gotten better is just crazy.”
“It’s kind of like we just know what kind of runs we’re gonna make or where we’re gonna be. We just have that connection.”
Since Schaefer joined forces with Gonzalez, the Rebels have won two Prep League titles, collected five postseason wins in eight matches and gone a combined 39-8-8.
“We’re really close friends on and off the field, so there’s never been any jealousy or competition [to score more],” says Schaefer, the Prep League Offensive Most Valuable Player and an All-CIF selection. “Through soccer, we’ve really become so close.”
While all the success and statistics have seemed to come so suddenly, they haven’t come easy; that’s simply not in Schaefer’s make-up.
“The kids at Prep give her so much credit, even the boys. You would think she would be big-headed, but she’s not. She’s never satisfied and I mean that in a good way,” Chavez says. “If I would let her get there before practice and stay after, she would. That’s who she is.”
With such an outstanding ninth-grade season in the rear view, Schaefer certainly could have rested on her laurels, but she went right back to work.
“After last season, the whole summer, every day a few of us would train, just on our own,” Schaefer says. “I’ve seen girls with big heads and it’s not pretty. I’m one of my worst critics and I’m never satisfied with how I play.
“I want to strive to get better and better. I just think looking at it like, ‘I was so great,’ that’s not going to help me.”
The dogged work ethic and onus on improvement no doubt led to Schaefer’s unbelievable statistics, but that was hardly her aim.
“I don’t look at the numbers until the season’s over,” she says. “It’s a team sport; all we care about is the team being successful. I don’t really care if I score or not as long as I contribute.”
Schaeffer’s contributions led the Rebels to a lengthy season brimming with statistical splendor and postseason grandeur. Alas, the Southern Section and SoCal Regionals ended with Rebels’ losses to eventual champion South Torrance. Bitter pills to swallow, Schaefer realizes the defeats do not squander all that came before them.
“Of course, it was [really difficult] for the next few days,” Schaefer says. “But when I look back on our season, we accomplished so much. We had a really successful season.”
So far, successful seasons are all that’s been had by Schaefer with the Rebels.
Two are left in what’s already become a storied career and while many doubted that her numbers could be reproduced this season, one would be hard-pressed to argue that plenty of goals, assists, accolades and victories lie ahead.
“I think it’s safe to say, we’re super excited,” Schaefer says. “We’ll grow and develop as players. We’re totally motivated.”
