Holy Family soccer upended by Alverno Heights in league match
Throughout the past couple of seasons, the Holy Family soccer team has been able to count on Brianna Cindrich to be a pillar and quintessential goal scorer.
In the process, the Gaels are trying to make a push for a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs in February.
Cindrich continues to do her part by being a goal-scoring threat.
Cindrich scored an early goal, yet it wasn’t enough as Holy Family suffered a 5-1 Horizon League home defeat to Alverno Heights on Monday at the Glendale Sports Complex.
Holy Family dipped to 6-6, 3-4 in league, while Alverno Height improved to 5-2-1 in league.
Cindrich, a senior forward, gave Holy Family a 1-0 lead when she took a pass from Maya Devora and beat Alverno Heights goalkeeper Destiny Rodriguez (seven saves) with a shot inside the right post in the 19th minute.
It was Cindrich’s 34th goal on the season and 124th of her career.
“It felt good to get that first goal of the game,” said Cindrich, who scored 58 goals last season and recently returned from an ankle injury. “I try to see what’s in front of me and how to make the next move.
“Then you get the ball and you see where you can go. I love my teammates and how we play for each other.”
Said Holy Family coach Sal Sarmiento: “Brianna has excellent field awareness. She’s a complete player and cuts to the ball quickly. She’s one of the best players I’ve coached and I’ve been coaching since 1981.”
The Jaguars tied the game at 1 on a goal by Olivia Burns (three goals) in the 23rd minute.
Burns converted on a penalty shot past Holy Family goalkeeper Maely Lopez (seven saves) in the 33rd minute to give Alverno Heights a 2-1 lead after a ball struck a Holy Family defender on the hand inside the box.
The Jaguars received a goal from Afton Okwu about 30 seconds into the second half to make it 3-1.
Cindrich followed with three quality scoring opportunities in a seven-minute span.
Cindrich launched a shot just wide of the left post in the 50th minute before Rodriguez made two outstanding saves on point-blank shots by Cindrich in the 54th and 56th minutes to hold the Gaels at bay.
“We came so close those few times,” Sarmiento said.
Alverno Heights extended the lead to 4-1 on a penalty kick by Okwu in the in the 59th minute.
The Jaguars closed out the scoring on a goal by Burns in the 62nd minute.
Devora, a senior midfielder, said it’s a pleasure to play alongside Cindrich.
“It’s really fun and exciting to be out there with her,” Devora said. “She’s all over the field and you never know what she’s going to do. She’s pretty unpredictable.
“In a good way, it’s hard to keep track of her. I like to get the assists.”
