Going With the Flow

Julie Herrold could have taken it as an insult when Coach Bud Dain asked her to switch from center midfielder to outside fullback.

After all, Herrold starts for the region’s Olympic development team . . . as a center midfielder. And she’s a three-time All-Pacific League selection and two-time All-Southern Section pick.

But Dain’s idea worked, helping turn around the Crescenta Valley girls’ soccer team that began the season 0-2-1.

Since the position change, the Falcons (12-2-3) are unbeaten in 14 games and Herrold, who has been double-teamed for the last two years, has been more valuable than ever.

“She told me she’d do whatever it takes to make this team better,” Dain said. “She was thrilled to do it.”

Herrold called a team meeting and later told Dain the players would make any sacrifices necessary to salvage the season.

Herrold’s attitude is part of the reason Crescenta Valley has been so successful, winning Pacific League titles two of the last three years, and on the brink of another if the Falcons can defeat Arcadia on Thursday.

“She’s a leader,” Dain said. “She’s been the engine room of this program.

“Off the field you can’t ask for a nicer kid, but once the whistle blows, she’s a totally different person. She’s as tough as nails.”

Herrold sacrificed her offense to solidify a defense that had yielded nine goals in its first three games. Since their 0-2-1 start, the Falcons have outscored opponents, 67-4.

Unlike most teams, Crescenta Valley’s leading scorers are defenders--Herrold and Rebecca Hidalgo, who switched from forward early in the season.

The two have combined for 34 goals and 25 assists. Herrold has 63 career goals and 58 assists, and is on pace to break Michelle Cina’s school record of 65 assists.

Setting records isn’t on her mind.

Herrold would like to beat Buena (22-0) today when the Falcons host Buena.

But her biggest goal is something she has never done--make it past the second round of the playoffs.

“I really want a ring, but I need to take it one game at a time,” she said. “I want to help my team progress more than we already have. In the past, we haven’t advanced far in CIF. I hope whatever I can give to my team will pay off.”

Herrold’s success is not limited to soccer. She volunteers as a peer tutor in math and English and coaches AYSO teams. Her 4.0 grade-point average earned her the opportunity to play at Brown in the fall.

“School is very important to me,” she said. “I think that is what’s going to make me achieve a lot of stuff in life.”