Costa Mesa team truly triumphant

What a story the Costa Mesa High girls soccer team has been.

For the first time in the history of the school, the team has a

CIF championship. And even though that championship has to be shared

with Walnut High, which played to a 0-0 tie with the Mustangs last

Saturday, this team has proven time and again that is made up of

winners.

With a record of 22 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie, the Mustangs

recorded a 17-game winning streak and played with grit and

determination all year.

“We’re going to celebrate as a team,” said junior star Stacy

Krikorian. “We made history.”

That’s a theme that has stuck with us in watching this team go to

the top, the teamwork. Sure, there are so many stories to tell of in

this historical championship season. But with so many personal

achievements, we don’t have nearly enough room on this page to

chronicle them, so we’ll stick with telling the story of the team.

Let’s start at the top.

Coach Dan Johnston has been at helm for 11 years. For seven of

them, the team has struggled against much stronger powers in the

Pacific Coast League.

But Johnston’s penchant for a hearty laugh has infused the team

with a jovial spirit that has become as much a part of the victories

as the talent they possess. He and his assistant coaches, Erin Van

Horn, Nicole Price, Patty McGehee have gone where no other Mustang

girls soccer team has gone before.

“Being a real team is something you strive for, but rarely

achieve,” Johnston told our reporter. “I think everybody out there

has contributed something to this season. It’s really cool the way it

has worked out. What’s also neat about it is that all the girls

recognize one another’s contributions.”

So with that we won’t single out certain players, we are just

happy for the team. They deserve congratulations and praise and we

know the rest of the community is proud of them.

Here are the first in history, Costa Mesa High girls soccer

champs:

Stacy Krikorian, Nelly Barrios, Jenny Sparks, Vera Gale, Rachel

Hughes, Devin Denman, Jasmin Day, Sharon Day, Laura Dinsdale, Kara

Jenkins, Kristen Bagwell, Sara Bryant, Valerie Gomez, Rachel

Ronquillo, Kindra Bailey, Julie Nomura, Nilani Duarte, Toshia Bryant

and Kaitlyn Gentling.