Strange series of events lead to history lesson

From Staff Reports

A historical perspective: Leave it to Frank Pace to draw a

parallel between one of the most important soccer matches of

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s season and one of the most

significant events in the history of international sporting

competition.

The Tologs allowed two goals in the first five minutes of their

Mission League match Jan. 31 at West Hills Chaminade, both after

questionable calls were made in favor of the Eagles, and wound up

suffering a 3-0 setback.

The first bone of contention came when defender Katrina Payne was

given a yellow card for jumping up and down while Cassidy Runyan was

attempting to deliver a corner kick.

Then, after Payne was substituted out, Chaminade failed to convert

on its first corner kick, only to be given another opportunity after

an inadvertent whistle, which Nasrin Pak capitalized on to head the

ball past goalkeeper Betsy McGovern.

A few minutes later, defender Natalie Hodge was knocked down,

prompting the Tolog co-coach to want to reinsert Payne into the

lineup. But the substitution wasn’t allowed and Tina Lutizetti took

advantage of another corner kick to build a 2-0 lead.

So how did Pace assess the strange turn of events?

“The first five minutes looked like a replay of the ’72 [Munich]

Olympics,” he said.

Just in case a refresher course is needed, Pace was referencing

the end of the gold medal game between the Soviet Union and the

U.S., which has been called the most chaotic, confusing and

controversial ending in the history of international basketball.

The Soviets were given three chances to score in the final three

seconds and eventually scored a layup on the third try to post a

51-50 win, ending a 63-game winning streak for the U.S. in

international events.

Sorely needed: Glendale High boys’ soccer player Luis Gonzalez

dabbled with chemistry Thursday. It wasn’t germane to team chemistry.

Gonzalez missed Thursday’s 1-1 tie with Pasadena after he

sustained a sprained left ankle Tuesday against Arcadia. Garbed in

street clothes, Gonzalez sat on the bench completing his chemistry

homework assignment prior to the contest.

The Nitros missed Gonzalez, who said he might return Tuesday

against Muir, which moved into first place Thursday with a 2-0 win

against Arcadia.

Goalkeeper in a pinch: With the loss of Lisa Friedman because of

a back injury, Flintridge Prep girls’ Coach Tim Morphy had been

experimenting with a handful of different individuals to fill the

void, but none really stood out.

But the Rebels might have found their replacement in a 1-0 loss to

Pasadena Mayfield and a 3-1 setback to Pasadena Poly in reserve

forward Michelle Lin.

According to Morphy, Lin made numerous great saves in both matches

and will likely start in Saturday’s nonleague contest at Ojai

Thacher.