Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer falls in league showdown versus Poly
Julia Gonzalez and the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team came up short against rival Pasadena Poly, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.
Going on the road for the first matchup of the season with archival Pasadena Polytechnic, the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer team was the lone remaining unbeaten squad in the Prep League.
The Rebels came in against host Poly, their fellow co-champions from last season, poised and focused, but it was the Panthers who took advantage of their opportunities to defeat Flintridge Prep, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at Babcock Field.
“Poly did a real good job of defending and attacking,” Rebels Coach Esteban Chavez said. “I thought the game was even. We had really good opportunities ourselves we just didn’t take care of business today. Again the effort was there on both teams. We were both organized. [Poly] did a good job of finishing their opportunities. I think that is what it came down to.”
The previous time Flintridge Prep visited Babcock Field, the Rebels came away with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Panthers to give them a share of the Prep League crown.
However, on Saturday, the Rebels (14-3-3, 3-1-1 in league) could not find the back of the net and failed to score for the second straight game after a scoreless tie on the road at Westridge on Monday.
“This was our second game without a goal,” Chavez said. “We have 62 goals already this season and it is back to back games without scoring. ...We just have to get back to our rhythm and the momentum where we were putting away a lot of our opportunities.”
The first half was scoreless until the 36th minute, when Poly (11-3-3, 3-1) broke through. It began with a Panthers throw-in from deep on the right side of the pitch. Poly’s Cayla McFarlane got a foot on the ball, as Rebels goalkeeper Lindsey Uteda charged off her line to make a play. The ball then came off McFarlane’s foot and glanced off Uteda before it came down just short of the open goalmouth where Panther Sophie Schleifer shot it into the back of the net.
Just seven minutes into the second half, Flintridge Prep manufactured a golden chance to get an equalizer, but was thwarted by Poly goalie Isabel Ball. Rebel Helen Schaefer threaded a pass over the top down the left side to teammate Julia Gonzalez with one defender to beat. The junior eluded the final defender resulting in a one-on-one opportunity against the goalkeeper, but Ball quickly closed down the space between them and smothered the shot before jumping upon the loose ball.
“The thing [Ball] has done so well is she comes out of goal fast and furious and with no fear,” Poly Coach Pat Gray said. “I think what we saw today is a culmination of that.”
The Panthers’ second goal came in the 47th minute. Poly’s Catalina Alonso gained possession at roughly midfield and passed up to Maggie Jamesone, who was able to score past a charging Uteda.
“We took advantage of a couple quick counters,” Gray said of.
From the second goal on, it was Flintridge Prep playing the aggressor. The best chance in that stretch came with seven minutes to go after Gonzalez tracked a bouncing ball down the left side and looked as if she had an opening before Ball once again came up big by coming off her line to end the threat.
“I thought Isabel, our goalkeeper, kind of stood on her head as they say in hockey vernacular,” Gray said. “She was outstanding. [Prep] is a very good team. They are organized, well-coached and they play a good brand of soccer.”
With the loss Flintridge Prep, which was ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division III going in, cedes control of the Prep League to the four-time defending champion Panthers. However, the Rebels will have another shot at their rivals on the final day of January at home.
“We are not in control any more. We were in control of league, but now [Poly is] in control because they have only one loss,” Chavez said.