From klutz to queen: LCS middle school improves

PLAYA VISTA – At the end of the game Wednesday, the hero was the least likely candidate for MVP.

Kay Sounders* didn't even want to play soccer but joined the Lighthouse Church School's team just so they would have barely enough players. Her lackluster performances so far have featured 3-inch kicks (she lacks power) and more interest in chat than chalk talk.

But by accident, or by an extraordinary act of the grace of God, Kay found herself on her own goal line when the ball rolled past the usual last defender, rolled past the goalie and rolled inexorably towards the Saints' goal line, towards the demise of a middle school team trying to muster some saving grace.

Kay took a swipe at that poisonous ball and launched it out of the danger zone in a move that would raise eyebrows among Cannavaro fans (See similar goal line clearances).

As result of her heroics, the Lighthouse Saints tied 2-2 against Westside Neighborhood School, a result that evidences progress. The Saints lost their first game so badly that no one can rightly remember exactly how many goals the other side made. In their second game, the Saints held New Roads to only 6 goals and scored 1.

On Dec. 18, they achieved their first respectable result.

The Saints are not without talent. This week's game saw a fearsome striking duo rack up two goals in the first half.

With a impeccable soccer pedigree, Alex Cervantes was virtually unstoppable. He ran on a through-ball from fellow striker Hosea Ashcraft, beating the offsides trap, and smashed it into the net with only the goalie to defeat.

Hosea scored the second goal that banked off the post and was grasped out of the goal by the opposing keeper only too late – it had passed the line.

Two other goals by Hosea were ruled out – one for a questionable offsides. The other was doubtful body contact that left the defender howling on the ground in apparent pain. It was simply a love pat from Hosea, whose baby face belies his rough-and-tumble, English-soccer style. But the ref ruled in favor of the smaller kids.

Lighthouse Middle School soccer is a work-in-progress. Newbie goalie Justin Berry is adapting his basketball ball-handling into penalty box prowess. Johnsie Gregors* found herself at home in the midfield this game, after a disheartening previous match when she was a defender.

In that game, the unlucky girl missed too many balls that came her way. One shanked off her shins and into the net for an own-goal.

On Wednesday, Johnsie used her getting-in-the-way skills against the other team to good effect. She also struck balls – and hit them in the right direction.

Yup, the Saints are definitely looking less like the Keystone cops and more like a cohesive team.

Credit must be given to Coach Tim Siregar, whose reconfigured line-up Wednesday, worked wonders. The Saints have been sagging in part because they lapsed a year, so kids who would have been beginners last year, were beginners this year. Thankfully, Patty Peterson came to the rescue and acted as Athletics Director this year to restore soccer continuity to the Saints.

At half time, LCS smelled victory. But errors of defense conceded two goals, and forwards blunted their effectiveness by acting selfishly and not passing when it was the best option. The Saints had to settle for a tie.

Wednesday's unlikely star was Kay, who masterfully defended and saved the Saints from totally sinking. Had this been any other school, Kay would not have made the cut. But this is Lighthouse, where anyone who wants to play, will play. Even some who have no intention of playing get imposed upon to fill in vacancies.

And that's how kids who would never have tasted the sweet wonders of soccer come to find their feet and live the dream that Lighthouse presents. Just ask Kay how many high fives she got after making the rescuing play.

*Their real names are changed so as to not stymie their eventual eclosion into soccer stardom.

To read LCS' Jan. 7 game, click here.