Buena Senior Could Not Be Stopped

When the high school soccer season began in November, many teams were hopeful of winning section championships.

Buena, however, knew it would be a champion.

The reason: forward Natalie Sanderson.

This season as a senior, the region’s most prolific offensive player couldn’t be stopped, or even slowed.

Behind Sanderson, The Times’ regional girls’ player of the year for the second season in a row, the Bulldogs (27-1-3) cruised to a second consecutive Southern Section Division II championship, earning a 1-1 tie with co-titlist Mission Viejo in the final.

“There is no question in my mind she is the most dangerous player I saw,” said Coach Ned Smith of Harvard-Westlake. “She is quick, fast and superb technically. She’s got a bag of tricks that goes deep.

“The two best things about her is she is knowledgeable about soccer and [is] the sort of kid that raises the level of play on the field.”

Sanderson’s success and leadership were unmatched in high school, but can she make the same impact at Stanford? It’s uncertain if she will be physically ready for the start of the college season in late August.

Sanderson tore an anterior cruciate ligament and sustained other knee damage while playing with the state Olympic Development team in the national championship against Michigan on March 11 in Las Vegas.

Sanderson, who has a 4.1 grade-point average, said she hopes to be playing again in about five months, near the start of the season.

“From all the people I’ve heard from, most said they have come back [from this injury] stronger than before,” she said. “With the rehab program the doctor has set up, I’ll be back before I know it. I go from the operating room to the [exercise] bike.

“I’m not scared because I know I can control how much work I put into getting better and getting back to 100% again. My college coach has mentioned that maybe I should redshirt my freshman year, but I promised that I would make it back in time for preseason.”

If Sanderson’s past is any indication, she should have a successful college career. Buena’s all-time scoring leader received national recognition for her play.

Sanderson was selected Parade magazine national player of the year, Gatorade state player of the year and was twice selected All-American, Academic All-American, Division II offensive player of the year and Channel League most valuable player.

“I don’t think Natalie is replaceable,” Buena Coach Trish Butterbaugh said. “Not just the goals she scored and leading [the team] to two [section] championships, but the leadership. I don’t think there’ll ever be another player like her at Buena.”

Sanderson’s vision, quickness, speed, agility, ball control and 130 goals, ranking her ninth on the Southern Section career list, helped Buena to a region-best 100-8-9 record the last four seasons.

She had four goals and 20 assists as a senior.

“I really enjoyed my four years at Buena,” she said. “Even though I will miss it, I’m looking forward to future experiences in college.”

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* All-region team and final top 10 ranking, D11

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THE TOP 10

Final rankings for girls’ soccer teams in the region

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Rk School (league) Rec. 1 Buena (Channel) 27-1-3 2 Harvard-Westlake (Mission) 18-3-5 3 Louisville (Mission) 18-8-3 4 Chaminade (Mission) 21-5-2 5 Westlake (Marmonte) 15-1-5 6 Quartz Hill (Golden) 19-3-1 7 El Camino Real (West Valley) 20-1-2 8 Hart (Foothill) 12-6-5 9 Valencia (Foothill) 19-4-2 10 Canyon (Foothill) 21-3-5 10 Thousand Oaks (Marmonte) 13-6-2

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