Despite postseason setback, Spartans reigned in '09

They were 23-2 by regular season’s end.

They were an extremely well-rounded team that sent four All-Stars to the first ever Tulare-Kings Counties All-Star soccer game.

And despite getting deprived of a Division VI Valley championship that many felt was theirs for the taking, the Strathmore girls’ soccer team gets the 10th spot on The Recorder’s Orange Belt Top 10 Teams of the 2008-09 season.

“It feels good even though we’re at the bottom,” freshman sensation and leading scorer Nayeli Colunga said, smiling. “I definitely think we were one of the best teams because we’re so close to each other and so united.”

That close-knittedness likely contributed to the sting felt by each of the Spartans after a monumental upset in the first round against Avenal, a team the Spartans had beaten handily earlier in the season.

“We’re over it, but when people bring it up it still hurts,” said Colunga, who racked up 44 goals in her first season. “It hurt me a lot because we worked hard and it didn’t happen.”

Indeed, the Spartans were chock full of talent at each section of the field including Colunga and Andrea Gutierrez at forward, Cecilia Ramirez, Brianna Rodriguez and Hailey Tsuboi at midfield and Amelia Medrano and Mercedes Magallon in the defense. Don’t forget Veronica Magana — an All-Star goalkeeper who returns next season.

“We deserved to win that game but we were a little bit overconfident,” said Colunga, who plans to stick with soccer this winter and forego an invitation to play basketball. “I cried (after the game). I think most of us did. It was tough.”

Strathmore coach Hector Gonzalez could see the confidence snap after Avenal snuck in an early goal and eventually won, 2-0.

“After that goal, we started playing like individuals and taking and missing so many shots that the frustration began to build,” Gonzalez said. “Quite a few were in tears afterward.”

Gonzalez, however, said there’s reason to wipe the tears away.

“You have to remember, we’re a young team,” Gonzalez said. “Most of them were freshmen and sophomores last year.”

In fact, all of the aforementioned names will return except for seniors Ramirez and Magallon, which led Gonzalez to announce next year’s motto: “Nothing less than a championship.”

“I think they’re still upbeat,” Gonzalez said of his girls. “They feel like they let one get away and they’re looking forward to getting another chance.”

Team No. 10: Strathmore girls’ soccer 

The ESL’s smallest school shined brightest 

on the pitch

Record: 23-3 (9-0 ESL), ESL champs, D-VI’s top seed

Finish: Lost 2-0 to Avenal in D-VI semifinals

Key Players: forward Nayeli Colunga, midfielder Cecilia Ramirez, goalie Veronica Magana, midfielder Hailey Tsuboi, defender Amelia Medrano, defender Mercedes Magallon

Highlights: 14 shutout victories, defeating rival Lindsay by 11 goals combined, 2 overtime wins over Woodlake to seal the ESL title, 5-1 win over Monache

Departures: Magallon, Ramirez, Emily Clifton