Girls’ soccer: Johnson’s dedication pushes Oaks Christian
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If anyone wants to learn something about dedication, they should talk to Oaks Christian‘s Kelly Johnson.
The sophomore midfielder has played a critical role in the Lions’ success and she proved her worth again Thursday afternoon with a goal and an assist in a 2-1 Southern California Regional Division III semifinal victory over San Diego Parker. Pretty impressive, especially when you consider Johnson warmed up for the game by running circles around LAX International Airport.
In the wee hours of Thursday morning, Johnson arrived at everybody’s favorite airport intent on boarding a Texas-bound airliner that would whisk her away to an Olympic Development Program tournament in Dallas. Unfortunately, ice storms in Texas grounded her initial flight. She waited and waited and waited and eventually boarded a plane only to be pushed off again when it was deemed too risky to fly to the Lone Star State.
With all available flights to Texas canceled, Johnson called her coach, Jan Hethcock, and told him she would race back to Westlake Village and try to make it in time for the game.
Johnson’s mother, who works as an Oaks Christian counselor, was already in Texas scouting out prospective colleges for her daughter, so it was up to Johnson’s grandfather to drive her to the game and her grandmother had to make sure her uniform was wrinkle free and ready to go once she got there.
‘I couldn’t believe it when she ran out onto the field at 4:30,’ Hethcock said. ‘It shows how dedicated she is to this team.’
And who knows what would have happened if Johnson didn’t play? I know the Lions are a pretty resilient bunch, but if Johnson wasn’t playing, there’s a chance the Lions’ wouldn’t be playing in the finals against La Jolla Bishop’s at 1 p.m. Saturday at Downey High.
We’ll see if the Johnson-less Lions, who are already playing without snipers Alexandra Coutnall and Jaciara Mello because of their Camarillo Eagles Soccer Club commitments, can pull off the big one against a Bishop’s squad that beat Parker, 4-1, earlier this season.
-- Austin Knoblauch
