Trang scores Mission League MVP in Flintridge Sacred Heart soccer swansong
Once a perennial contender atop the Mission League standings, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer had come up short of even qualifying for the postseason the last two years.
That all changed this past season, as the Tologs turned things around, qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and won the league title for the first time since 2011.
And to the winners of the Mission League went the spoils of all-league accolades, led by senior Amethyst Trang notching Mission League Most Valuable Player and sophomore Lauren Bolte picking up the Mission League Offensive Player of the Year honor.
“We knew we had a good shot at the league. That was our focus,” said Tologs coach Mark Snashall, who had nine total players lauded. “It was great we got recognition for the girls.”
Joining Trang and Bolte, Campbell Green, Hillary Howard, Emily Gomez and Fiona Stayton drew all-league first-team accolades, while Krista Celo, Natalie Slim and Joshlyn Aguirre were bestowed with second-team nods.
A perennial All-Area and all-league selection who became the first Tolog since Kayla Mills in 2013 to win league MVP, Trang, a midfielder, was very much the offensive catalyst, finishing with eight goals and three assists on her way to play at UC Irvine.
“Getting league MVP, especially as a senior, meant so much to me,” Trang said. “Receiving this award was more of a reminder that I’ve worked so hard for the past four years to get to this position.”
Six goals were had by Trang in league play, including a score in a 1-0 win over Chaminade that clinched the league crown.
“She’s a gem of a player,” Snashall said. “All-around, she’s a great player and a great girl. “Whenever the ball comes to her, she can make something happen.”
While Trang has been a mainstay for the Tologs for four seasons, Bolte, a forward, made an impact in her sophomore season, which was certainly a memorable one.
“It was exciting when we started winning games and we were working so well together,” she said. “As a freshman, I really didn’t get to play much, so it was great to play and get out there and help us win league.”
Bolte led the Tologs in goals (eight, tied with Trang, Howard and Marissa Venneri) and assists (eight), along with points (24).
“I was really, really shocked,” Bolte said of the award. “I’m really honored because I know there’s so many players in the Mission League who are so good.”
Said Snashall of Bolte: “She’s brave and she can score goals. She’s aggressive and she can move very, very quickly.”
Green, a senior defender who was also voted her team’s most valuable player, was steadfast in the back for the Tologs.
“She kept everything tidy in the back,” Snashall said. “She was the backbone of our team. Without her, we don’t have the season we had.”
Gomez was a central midfielder who tallied a goal and four assists.
“Physical, comes to play every game,” Snashall said. “She had a great season.”
A senior defender, Stayton proved to be an offensive presence who tallied six goals and four assists.
“Every time the whistle blows, she comes to play,” Snashall said of Stayton.
Howard’s statline matched the league MVP’s as she scored eight goals and passed for three assists.
“She never gives up,” Snashall said. “She’s one of those kids you just want on the team.”
Celo, a junior, had three goals and two assists. Aguirre, a freshman, and Slim, a junior, split time at goalkeeper for the Tologs. Aguirre had a 1.64 goals-against average in 788 minutes and Slim had a 1.55 GAA in 772 minutes.
Flintridge Sacred Heart posted a 10-5-5 record, concluding its season with a 3-2 defeat against Valencia Valencia in the CIF Southern Section Division II first round after a 5-1-2 mark won it the league title.
Alemany junior Niki Herrera won the defensive player of the year and Chaminade senior Cate Mackel was tabbed as the league’s top netminder.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
