Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Gentling

Steve Virgen

The 25 saves in four games she recorded last week did not seem to

impress Costa Mesa High girls soccer goalkeeper Kaitlyn Gentling, the

person who actually made the saves.

The Mustangs’ sophomore simply thought, “This is my job and it’s what

I’m supposed to do.”

So, it’s easy to understand why Gentling had so much confidence when

Coach Dan Johnston called on her to fill in at the net for injured senior

Chelsea Soria.

There wasn’t a swagger about her. There wasn’t arrogance. She just

knew. Call it faith. Gentling calls it reality.

“I knew I would be ready,” Gentling said of taking over as goalkeeper.

“My confidence level is pretty high. My team trusts me and I know I’m

pretty good.”

The aforementioned 25 saves produced three shutout victories and gave

Johnston yet another player to bring stronghold at the net. Gentling has

five shutouts this season after her four saves helped the Mustangs to a

1-0 win over visiting Laguna Hills Tuesday.

With Soria returning within the next week and Nichelle Janti providing

more experience, Johnston can use Gentling’s defensive versatility to the

extreme.

After all, it was her varied skills at different positions, including

sweeper, which gave her the Most Valuable Player award for Mesa’s

freshman team last year. And if Johnston ever needs help in the net

again, Gentling will be ready.

“She’s been getting more and more confidence in the net,” Johnston

said of the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week. “She made some early-season

mistakes, but you expect that. She has made some really good saves. She’s

been working hard on her goalie punt and she’s kicking the heck out of it

now.”

The knee injury to Soria saddened Gentling, yet inspired her. Gentling

knew of the huge shoes she had to fill. She knew her responsibilities

would increase. She would have to become a vocal leader on defense. That

means she would have to reveal the loud side of her personality. She

shouts instructions, telling her teammates where they should be on

defense.

“I felt bad because it’s (Soria’s) last year and she’s really good,”

Gentling said. “I didn’t really feel pressure. My first game, I was

nervous. It took me a couple of minutes into the game to get over the

nerves. I just had to get into the game and not worry about anything.”

With each game, Gentling continues to play worry-free soccer. Believe

it or not, there is a higher confidence of what she is currently

displaying. She has yet to grow into the player she can become, Johnston

said.

“The confidence has made a big difference; that’s been a big help,”

Johnston said of Gentling’s progress. “She’s a very serious player. She

works hard out there. Kaitlyn has really stepped up. She knew she had to

come up big and she has been doing it.”

Gentling’s confidence also supports the mistakes that sometime come at

the net, or the mistakes that come from the defense, which lead to a

goal. She’s aware, she’s as strong as her defense and that’s where her

confidence is truly present, she said. She knows Mesa has a strong

defense and she plays up to that level.

“Sometimes (goalies) get the blame after a goal,” Gentling said. “But

it’s not just the goalie’s fault, because it has to get through 10

players. It’s not just the one player’s fault. But, also it’s the whole

team’s credit when I do play well.”