Hat trick aids Rebels
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — Recording a hat trick wasn’t something Cole Rademacher had expected to happen.
Thus, it’s something the Flintridge Prep boys’ soccer player won’t soon forget. It might also serve as a barometer toward future success for him and the Rebels.
Rademacher recorded his first career had trick Tuesday afternoon to help spark Flintridge Prep to a 7-1 Prep League victory against Rio Hondo Prep at the Glendale Sports Complex.
Flintridge Prep (4-6-2, 1-1 in league) scored a season-high in goals en route to snapping a four-match losing streak. Rademacher, a freshman forward, and the Rebels searched for any kind of offensive output to help regain their confidence.
“We had lost these last four games and we looked at some different kinds of combinations,” Rademacher said. “We wanted to get back on track leading up to this Saturday’s game [against rival Pasadena Poly].
“I went out there hoping we could win. I wasn’t expecting to score three goals. I got some good passes from my teammates and we wanted to be able to jump out quickly.”
Flintridge Prep wasted little time getting started against Rio Hondo Prep (1-4, 0-3). It took two minutes for the Rebels to begin their onslaught.
Bryce Delgado slammed home a shot off the inside of the left post to give Flintridge Prep a 1-0 lead in the second minute. Rademacher made it 2-0 in the ninth minute before David Russell and Roy Yu scored in the 11th and 25th minutes, respectively, to raise the Rebels’ lead to 4-0.
“I think we are good at applying pressure,” Flintridge Prep first-year Coach Fabrice Gautrat said. “We were able to spread the scoring out and we had a lot of guys attacking most of the game.”
The Kares cut the lead to 4-1 on a goal by Jake Hanna in the 36th minute before Russell scored with five seconds in the first half to make it 5-1. The Rebels rarely let the Kares cross midfield in the second half.
Gautrat said the Rebels, who received a pair of assists from Russell, looked to shore up a few areas leading into the Pasadena Poly road match at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
“We came in looking to work on some tactical things, like playing outside the back and being able to go forward with the ball,” Gautrat said. “We know that we aren’t always going to have that much time with the ball.”
Rademacher scored in the 42nd minute to make it 6-1 before completing the scoring in the 50th minute.
Flintridge Prep finished with 18 shots on goal and only surrendered one.
Flintridge Prep and Rio Hondo Prep will meet again at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Whittier Narrows.
