By Ted Apodaca

After making a run to the CIF-SS Division 3 finals, the Pacifica High girls soccer team was tripped up in a 3-1 loss to Flintridge Prep, on Saturday at Warren High in Downey.

The Mariners scored first on a goal by Alexa Riddle in the 31^st minute. Keyla Frogoso slipped a pass through two defenders and Riddle controlled it just outside the goal box. Riddle moved around a defender to the left and slipped a shot passed the charging goalie that put the Mariners up 1-0.

But riddle suffered a hamstring injury late in the first half and combined with a quick strike by Flintridge Prep, the Mariners lost the momentum of scoring first. Flintridge tied the game up four minutes later.

“We tried to make some adjustments, moving a forward back to the midfield, it just really kind of took us out of our game,” Mariner Coach Mike Sutton said.

Flintridge Prep’s Helen Schaefer followed a long pass down field and was able to beat the defenders to the ball to slide a low shot past the goalie for the tying goal. Flintridge scored again eight minutes into the second half, again using a long pass and speed on the attack. This time it was Makenna Dominguez who followed the pass and scored on another low shot for what would prove to be the game-winner.

Without Riddle’s speed on their own attack, the Mariners began pressing on offense to try and even the score. Flintridge was able to take advantage on a counter late in the game for the third goal.

“Hats off to them, they played a good game, I’m not going to say we played a bad game, but I don’t think we played our best game either,” Sutton said.

Pacifica had not allowed more than two goals this season, as the back line had propelled them to the top seed in the playoffs.

“We’ve worked out butts off all year, Saturday practices and just being very composed with a teamwork attitude … it just didn’t out work our way today,” Sutton said.

This story originally ran in the Orange County News/Garden Grove

Pacifica was given the No. 2 seed in the state championship tournament. Pacifica hosted Mt. Carmel in the first round, winning 2-0, before falling to Academy of Our Lady of Peace, 3-0, in the region semifinals.