Lindstrom Makes an Early Impression
Aliso Niguel’s Stacy Lindstrom hasn’t even reached her 15th birthday yet, but the 5-foot-10 freshman is already on the verge of something big.
Lindstrom, a midfielder for the Wolverines, was invited to attend the National team’s Under-18 camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 30-Feb. 6. The U-18 team will be selected from camp participants.
Lindstrom said she was surprised by the invitation, but not overwhelmingly so, as she has already earned accolades among her peers.
Last December, Lindstrom, who lives in Laguna Niguel, was one of only four high school girls invited to Chula Vista to compete for a spot on the U.S. National team. Lindstrom knew going in that making the team was an extreme longshot.
“I wasn’t going in thinking I’d make the team,” Lindstrom said. “But it was a great experience. I was playing with a bunch of 27-year-olds and college players. It was awesome.”
Lindstrom is used to playing out of her element, dating back to her childhood in a suburb of Chicago. Because of a lack of girl participants, Lindstrom, who began playing soccer in kindergarten, was forced to play on boys’ teams.
After moving to Southern California with her family when she was 8, Lindstrom soon joined the prestigious Southern California Blues club team and the Olympic Development Program, playing up age divisions in both.
Now in high school, she is playing in unfamiliar territory again: the midfield. Normally a fullback, she leads a young Aliso Niguel squad, which is looking to make its mark this season.
The fourth-ranked Wolverines are 9-1-2, 1-0 in the Sea View League. Their only blemish is a 2-1 early-season loss to Huntington Beach in the Mater Dei tournament.
The Wolverines handed top-ranked Capistrano Valley (13-1) its only defeat and they earned a tie against fifth-ranked San Clemente (9-1-3).
“When I started playing in high school, I mainly did it just for fun,” Lindstrom said. “But now that I’m playing, I want to win. I want us to win league and win CIF. It isn’t just for fun anymore.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Today, Aliso Niguel can take a big step toward the Sea View League title when it travels to third-ranked Woodbridge.
The Wolverines have played only one league game--a 2-0 victory over Laguna Hills--as their game against Irvine last week was canceled. The Wolverines showed up at Irvine, ready to play a 3:15 p.m. game, but Irvine had the game scheduled for 5 p.m. Whether the game will be rescheduled or considered an Irvine forfeit is still under consideration.
Woodbridge (8-2-1, 1-0-1) was stunned by Laguna Hills in its first league game, playing to a 1-1 tie. The Warriors rebounded for a 1-0 victory over Newport Harbor.
Another strong matchup today is in the Sunset League, where seventh-ranked Marina, which is ranked 10th in the Southern Section Division I poll, hosts eighth-ranked Esperanza. Each team has five losses, but Marina’s are all against top 10 Division I teams, and Esperanza’s are against top 10 county teams.
On Thursday, Cypress (10-3-2, 3-0) will travel to El Dorado (7-7-2, 2-0-1) for an Empire League match. El Dorado was held to a 2-2 tie against Loara (11-2-1, 1-1-1) last week and a victory would vault them over the Centurions and into first place. A Cypress victory would give it a stranglehold on first place.
If you have an item or idea for the girls’ soccer report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail melanie.neff@latimes.com