Boys’ Soccer Preview: Revived Flintridge Prep looking at bigger picture
After finishing fourth in the Prep League, the Flintridge Prep boys’ soccer team found itself waiting to see if it would be a part of the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs.
When the Rebels learned they would be a part of the playoff picture, their outlook turned bright. The at-large squad pulled off several upsets, including a stunning victory against second-seeded and defending division champion Monrovia in the first round before ultimately advancing to the semifinals during a postseason that featured all three local squads, including La Cañada High and St. Francis.
The lengthy playoff run has lifted Flintridge Prep and given the program more optimism moving ahead.
“Things came together at the right time after we made the playoffs,” said Flintridge Prep Coach AJ Yates, the reigning All-Area Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year, who guided the Rebels to a 13-win campaign. “It left a very good taste in our mouths with what we were able to accomplish.
“We have almost all of our starters back and they are excited to try to achieve more success. They are confident knowing they want to at least match what they did last year and maybe take another step or two. We like what we have and how we are building the program.”
Flintridge Prep will bring back senior center back Aidan Boyle, juniors midfielders Tim Treinen and Andrew Lathrop and junior forwards Garrett Gaines and Ramzi Beshir. Treinen and Lathrop picked up All-Area first-team honors, while Boyle and Beshir earned spots on the second team.
The Rebels, who lost to runner-up Shadow Hills in the semifinals, will look to find a replacement at goalkeeper after Hamilton Evans, an All-CIF selection, graduated.
“We have some people in mind who can do well in goal,” said Yates, whose team will remain in Division VI after the CIF Southern Section office realigned each division. “We have about 95% of the guys who scored goals last year back and our defenders, midfielders and forwards will all contribute. We just want to be better in league and make another playoff run.”
St. Francis needed to win its final two Mission League games to qualify for the Division I postseason. St. Francis rallied to beat Chaminade and Alemany to take third in league and ended up reaching the second round of the playoffs where it fell against Warren.
St. Francis will remain in Division I this season under coach Glen Appels, who has led the Golden Knights to three CIF championships and one Southern California Regional crown.
“One of the things we learned from last season is that there are a lot of close teams in our league and that leads to lots of close games,” Appels said. “We definitely want to get out the gate early this time around and try to build a cushion so we aren’t playing for our playoff lives, because you know going in the league will be very tough again.
“We got some more excellent playoff experience. That’s a positive for our returners and we’ll look to take another step or two.”
St. Francis will bring back plenty of key returners, including senior midfielders Liam Snashall, Christian Ibarra, Michael Guzman and Riley Baz. They will be joined by center defender James DeRose and junior goalkeeper Michael Bazarevitsch. Snashall, Guzman and DeRose picked up All-Area recognition last season.
La Cañada will usher in a new era after the Spartans brought in coach Bruno Costa to replace Alex Harrison, who resigned after guiding them to a second-place finish in the Rio Hondo League and a Division VI quarterfinal appearance last season.
The Spartans lost Lawrence Ku, the reigning All-Area Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year, to graduation. Ku led the area with 25 goals and added 19 assists en route to receiving All-CIF first-team honors.
Still, La Cañada won’t be bereft of talent under Costa.
“You know going in that expectations will continue to be high throughout the program,” said Costa, whose team will remain in Division VI. “I have an obligation to keep the tradition going and that will happen.
“We have plenty of talented and experienced players. They want to go challenge for the league. I think we’ll have a very good team, not only for this year, but in the near future.”
The Spartans will have a steady nucleus that will include senior defender Jack Meeker, senior midfielder Luke Bonham, senior defender Sam Adida and sophomore defensive midfielder Brandon Grandalski. Meeker and Bonham earned spots on the All-Area first team, while Adida was selected to the second team.
In the past five seasons, La Canada is 71-30-22. In that stretch, the Spartans captured two league titles and advanced to the postseason each year.
