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Thursday night’s torrential waters, unfortunately, do little to wash away the smell of urine.
Women’s soccer coach Mike Fleming says there are rats in the press box at Corona Santiago High School. Fleming thus proves that the room smells of urine. That said, it’s a haven from the torrential rains that hit Santiago’s lawns on an early January night, and the players on the field are squinting.
Rubber tracks around the field are full of puddles. Santiago’s women’s soccer players wear jackets and happily punt a water-soaked ball before their match against Corona Her Centennial.
They gather on the field, and the shark players start gridy dancing in the downpour as Kanye West’s “power” hits the loudspeakers soaking wet. Fleming has a big umbrella and players on the sidelines jogging from a pre-match meeting with the official go haywire.
“It’s like a beach umbrella,” said one player with a laugh.
At first glance, nothing is taken seriously. Santiago is just one of the public high school soccer teams in the club-dominant era. Players do a mosh pit in the locker room before each game and tune in to LMFAO’s ‘Shots’. Their assistant coach tells them, “May the Force be with you.” And their press box smells of urine.
“We’re not walking around like, ‘Oh yeah, we’re the best in the country,'” said sophomore forward Madeline Salwatari.
Yet they did.
The rain abates and the shenanigans end at kickoff, replaced by relentless possession-based offense and relentless pursuit of the ball. This is a group of neighborhood kids, Fleming proudly says, making it one of the best systems in Southern California.Throughout this winter season, the Sharks have gone 14-0-1 and United Ranked as the best team in the country by soccer coaches.
“I think they’re probably the least talented team I’ve seen in eight years,” said Centennial coach Jason Smith. “But they can still stay on top.” It’s pretty amazing.”
Each season, Fleming infuses the words into the team’s motto. In the 2019-20 season, it was ‘trust’ when Santiago won their first Southern Division I title. A program that switches the philosophy from direct attack to ball control. This season is “execution”.
He didn’t let the team forget it.The girls laughed at how often Fleming repeated the phrase.
“He always reminds us…” Salwatari said before being interrupted by Kaitlyn Currier, a senior who is dedicated to East Bay, California.
“If you don’t do it, you’ll do it!” Currier yells in Fleming’s rough voice, while his teammates yell.
As with the girls, Fleming doesn’t take himself too seriously.The 23-year head coach is gifted with talent, having signed six college deals with the team last season and 11 the previous season. Yes. he says with a laugh.
“The older I get,” Fleming says with a smile.
As Fleming emphasizes, you might laugh, but sharks execute with great patience, making slow-moving, current-like attacks. Move forward, then retreat until an opening is found and the player passes through the crest.
“After it loses its shape, it turns around and stabs it quickly,” Saruwatari said.
They dominated possession in a 3-0 victory over Centennial earlier this month. Fast-footed junior midfielders Cristal Medina, Saruwatari and Currier each scored.
Santiago’s system will not change, Smith said. The challenge is staying consistent when you’re undefeated. Because, as Fleming knows, nothing is guaranteed before heading into the unranked 2019-20 playoffs and knocking out the previously undefeated Upland.
“We can’t get it to us,” Currier said.
There are other programs planned for the South Section, including Santa Margarita and Temecula Valley.
Led by Santa Margarita is first-year head coach Craig Bull. With his 11-0-2 record, the Eagles will face a demanding schedule in the Trinity League. Junior forward Faith George, who is dedicated to USC and has also done track and field, is a notable figure as the team’s top scorer.
Temecula Valley are the reigning Division I champions and once again the Golden Bears (13-3-2) are back. Natalie Mitchell, last season’s Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year, is currently at Virginia Tech, but the Golden Bears also include senior member Zoe Willis of Caltech Long Beach and Air Force’s Annika Jost. and many other talents.
Orange County as strong as ever in JSerra (9-1-3) and Villa Park (9-3-2) Defending the traditionally strong team.San Clemente (10-1-4) and Huntington Beach (16-2-1) are also potential candidates.
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