Narbonne and San Pedro’s women’ flag soccer groups met at midfield after the officers referred to as each groups to the 50-yard line to begin the sport.
“Let’s not get caught up in the other stuff,” one referee remarked, seemingly in reference to the boycott of Narbonne’s boys’ staff by its Marine League rivals. San Pedro forfeited its Friday contest towards Narbonne, per week after Banning did the identical.
The women of San Pedro (18-2) and Narbonne (9-8) ignored the noise, with the Pirates getting back from a 12-point deficit to assert a 13-12 victory. After rumblings that the flag soccer recreation additionally could be canceled, Narbonne coach Sherrelle Holmes and San Pedro coach Vic Tuberosi spoke this week to make sure it could not.
“Vic and I did a great job keeping the focus on the girls and highlighting the special things that flag football has brought,” Holmes stated. “I’m glad we didn’t have another distraction because that was clearly a distraction that neither team had nothing to do with. Hopefully, they figure their stuff out, but it has nothing to do with us — what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Final week, 4 Marine League soccer coaches — Banning’s Raymond Grajeda, San Pedro’s Corey Walsh, Gardena’s Monty Gilbreath and Carson’s Mike Christensen — alleged in a letter that Narbonne violated league guidelines. The groups declare they may forfeit video games towards the Gauchos till Metropolis Part Commissioner Vicky Lagos or the L.A. Unified Faculty District takes motion towards this system.
If Lagos does, it could not be the primary time Narbonne confronted punishment. In 2019, the Metropolis Part reprimanded the Gauchos for fielding an ineligible participant after investigating this system.
Coach Malcolm Manuel, a former Banning junior-varsity coach employed by Narbonne in 2021, launched a press release Wednesday denying the allegations.
“I want to clarify that we are not involved in any activities that would jeopardize our eligibility, integrity, opportunities for our players, or the values we uphold,” Manuel wrote. “Our athletes have submitted all necessary paperwork, which was thoroughly reviewed and cleared.”
San Pedro staff captains, left, shake palms with Narbonne staff captains earlier than a women’ flag soccer recreation on Oct. 11, 2024.
(Benjamin Royer / For The Instances)
Tuberosi, who’s in his second season teaching San Pedro flag soccer, stated he doesn’t need the boys’ and women’ groups to be in the identical drama, emphasizing the camaraderie in flag soccer to date.
“I don’t want the girls to know football like that,” he stated. “At first, when I thought we would have to cancel, I was a little upset and disappointed. I think we should be differentiated from [the boys]. The girls’ game is completely different.”
San Pedro senior Giuliana Sutrin, who made a juggling pick-six to safe the one-point win, stated enjoying Friday confirmed what San Pedro is about.
“It took the team coming together, realizing that we need to come together, hype each other up on the sideline, on the field,” Sutrin stated. “Just be resilient.”
