Front row: Sydney May, Jessica Resong, Isabella Valdivia, Jenna Gray, Team Parent Liz Gladinus. Back row: Abbi Gladinus, Coach Hector Huffington, Olivia Aska, Sofia Huffington. Absent: Cora Cooper.
Griffin girls soccer future is looking bright as two Los Alamitos team representing AYSO 159 GU10, played each other in 11E regional finals. Both teams were undefeated in their tournament brackets and faced off in the final. One Los Alamitos team was guaranteed slot in Southern California sectionals Valentine Day weekend. The losing team’s season would come to a close and be forced to hibernate their soccer cleats until next season.
The Purple Ninjas and Tiger Sharks had an epic soccer battle with the final score being 1-0. The Tiger Sharks struck first with a solid shot at the goal but hit the outside right post with authority, ringing the post, and dropping the fans to their knees. You could feel the fans exhale in disbelief and grief. The Purple Ninja’s took the ringing of the post as a wake up call and began to pressure with defense and a tidal wave of offensive attack.
With momentum change in the third period favoring the Ninja’s, a long sideline throw towards the goal created an opportunity for a Ninja player to push the ball across the goal line.
The Tiger Sharks fans collapsed into their chairs and the Ninja fans exploded into a frenzy. Both team played with amazing passion until the final minutes but the Purple Ninja’s brought home the trophy for Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Rossmoor.
The victory was bittersweet as both team had a friendly rivalry during the regular season. Blue Sharks went undefeated in league play and the Purple Ninjas advanced to to sectionals this weekend in Garden Grove by defeating the Blue Sharks. In a recent development, a wild card slot opened in the sectional tournament in Garden Grove and the Blue Sharks swim again.
Two Los Alamitos team will now represent in the tournament. If the teams play to their capabilities, there is a good chance the Purple Ninja’s and Blue Sharks may play again for the tournament title. At stake is the opportunity to represent Southern California in an Arizona tournament in March.
AYSO is one of many soccer programs in our community and the future of Griffin Soccer is looking very bright with so many talented young athletes in the Los Alamitos youth programs.