DAILY PILOT GIRLS’ SOCCER DREAM TEAM:Duffy helped Costa Mesa remain on track

There was a hefty amount of pressure on the shoulders of Caitlin Duffy entering her fourth year on the Costa Mesa High girls’ soccer team.

There was tradition to be upheld, four consecutive undefeated seasons in the Golden West League and a 10-year-long reign over cross-town rival Estancia. And the Mustangs were without All-CIF forwards Jasmin Day and Kyla Flores, who graduated last spring.

On a personal level Duffy, a stopper, had to build upon the play that earned her third-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III honors as a junior.

Then the season began to go under. The Mustangs lost to the Eagles twice in three days to open the season and stumbled to an 0-4-3 start.

All of a sudden, Duffy was forced to do something that had not been required of her the previous three seasons. She had to take the forefront in focusing the team each practice and before games.

Costa Mesa went on to win the Orange Coast League and Duffy was named second-team All-CIF and the league’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. She is also the Daily Pilot’s Newport-Mesa Player of the Year.

But there was still a point halfway through the season when Duffy was forced to get the team in line. Coach Dan Johnston and teammates credit her with Costa Mesa’s mental turnaround.

“I just yelled a lot,” Duffy said. “People always talked about how our effort in practice shows in the game. When people would goof off, I remember them saying they want to try hard in the game, but then you go and goof off. It wasn’t hard to make people realize.”

Duffy was dealing with a much younger team than she was used to.

“We had a really short attention span,” Duffy said. “So I would have to be serious all the time. It’s difficult for me to be serious; it’s not something I like to do. Sometimes, we would have to stop and say ‘Let’s pick it up.’ ”

Duffy had always led by example, which she continued to do. Every game she approached the challenge of dueling taller defenders with equal intensity.

“I’d think how cool it would be to beat them,” Duffy said of battling taller forwards.

Even after the season was righted, there were trials for the Mustangs to navigate. Injuries hit Costa Mesa hard late in the season and Duffy had to watch longtime teammates lose the ability to compete.

“It was tough to see my friends get hurt,” Duffy said. “It was hard to watch [senior midfielder Sharon Frazier who tore up her knee with five league games remaining] because she loved to play. I wanted to play for them so they could appreciate the season.”

Through it all, Duffy remained humble, even to a fault.

“I don’t ever think I do good enough,” she said. “When I think about it, it brings me down. My teammates have to tell me I’m doing OK.”

Looking back on the season Duffy said her favorite moment was defeating Estancia, 5-3, when the Mustangs had only nine players on the field late in the match.

“Getting to know everybody was fun, because that’s why I play,” Duffy said. “You meet people you wouldn’t talk to normally without soccer.”

Here’s a look at the rest of the Dream Team.

AYLA MEDINA

COSTA MESA, SOPHOMORE

The Mustangs’ forward was the epitome of a scoring machine. With the pressure of following forwards Day and Flores, who helped Mesa go 48-0 in league during their four seasons, Medina did not wilt.

Medina scored in a variety of ways, usually with the help of fellow sophomore forward Kyra Graham. Medina produced 19 goals and 12 assists on the year, both team highs.

Medina was also the Orange Coast League Co-Most Valuable Player.

KAILY CARICH

COSTA MESA, SENIOR

Carich teamed with Duffy to form a potent back line for the Mustangs. Carich, a stopper, could always be found wherever the ball traveled as she moved easily from sideline to sideline.

The senior scored two goals and had an assist, but won numerous 50-50 balls. One of Carich’s goals came in a 4-0 victory over rival Estancia. Carich earned first-team all-league honors.

KARA PERCIVAL

SAGE HILL, SENIOR

The midfielder led Sage Hill to a 12-9-1 record and second place in the Academy League with an 8-2 mark.

Percival was an offensive force, scoring and setting up teammates for goals. She gave the Lightning an opportunity to score each time she took a corner kick or free kick near the 18-yard box. Percival, who was named first-team all-league, scored five goals and had five assists in 10 league games. She also scored the game-winning goal against JSerra.

HANNAH MACLEOD

SAGE HILL, FRESHMAN

The Lightning posted shutouts in eight of their 10 league games and goalie Macleod was a big reason why. She was a wall in front of the net and eased Lightning Coach Amy Ray’s mind when she stepped onto the field at the all-important position.

Macleod was the first freshman goalkeeper Ray has had in her seven seasons as the Lightning coach. Macleod had 72 saves on the season and helped Sage Hill post 12 shutouts. Macleod was second-team all-league.

LAUREN NEALE

SAGE HILL, SENIOR

Neale was the oil that kept the Lightning engine running smoothly. The midfielder and forward regularly provided the pass before the assist and kept the ball circulating forward from the midfield.

Neale returned to the varsity starting lineup — which she was a part of as a sophomore — after choosing to play on the junior varsity her junior year because of a rigorous workload from school. Neale was a first-team all-league honoree.

GILLIAN HOGAN

NEWPORT HARBOR, FRESHMAN

The forward’s arrival on campus put a large smile on the face of first-year coach Josh Brooks. Hogan jumped right in and became a scoring machine.

With the Sailors 1-3 in the Sunset League and in danger of falling out of the playoff race, Hogan delivered game-winning goals in back-to-back games. Hogan was also the only Sailor to score in the season finale against league champion Los Alamitos.

Hogan was named first-team all-league.

CARLY RUIZ

NEWPORT HARBOR, JUNIOR

The midfielder was limited early in the season due to a sprained knee and a concussion, but once she stepped onto the field, the Sailors’ offense took off. Ruiz was difficult to stop shooting down the right sideline and the crossing pass that typically followed was on point.

Ruiz helped the Sailors finish 9-10-3 and narrowly miss the playoffs. She was named first-team all-league.

BRIDGET GLEASON

ESTANCIA, SENIOR

Estancia endured a rocky season, but one thing that never changed was Gleason’s tenacious defense. She hawked forwards down the sideline and the defender’s ability to push the ball ahead boosted the offense.

Gleason picked up her first victory over Costa Mesa this season, in a 3-0 triumph to open up the Newport-Mesa Cup. Gleason was also named first-team all-league for the second consecutive season.

STACY MCDANIELS

ESTANCIA, JUNIOR

There was no player more dangerous on free kicks than the Estancia midfielder. Regardless of where the free kick was located, McDaniels could send it booming. She was a threat to score from up to 50 yards out.

McDaniels was named first-team all-league as the Eagles finished the season 8-9-5.

KALEIGH TRIDER

CORONA DEL MAR, SENIOR

A team captain, she was an integral part of the Corona del Mar offense in a variety of ways. As a right midfielder Trider won the majority of the 50-50 chances she had, keeping possession for the Sea Kings. As a forward, Trider was a threat to score on set pieces and corner kicks.

Trider was named first-team all-league as the Sea Kings finished the season 4-11-5.

KATELYN SMITH

CORONA DEL MAR, JUNIOR

Smith, a defender, was a second-team all-league performer and is one of the bright spots returning on Bryan Middleton’s squad. Smith’s defense was key in five shutouts.

In the first week of the season, Smith helped the Sea Kings to back-to-back shutouts of Newport Harbor and Estancia. Corona del Mar also blanked Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach.