Going for it all

As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, there will be plenty of time to barbecue, go to the beach and reflect on the United States.

The Seacliff Elementary girls’ futbolito team, meanwhile, is on a plane to Dallas today. On the pitch Friday and Saturday, the Sea Stars will be representing their country a different way.

And, as the Fourth of July comes to a close Saturday evening, Seacliff also hopes to be reflecting — maybe not so much on independence, but on winning an international title in the six-on-six indoor-style soccer format.

Seacliff, the national champion, has been preparing for the last several weeks for this weekend’s Futbolito Bimbo international finals, to be held at NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills, Texas.

“These scrimmages are really getting us ready for the games in Dallas,” said Seacliff’s Mikaela Doe, after her squad beat the North Valley Ajax boys’ team from Los Angeles in a scrimmage shootout last week.

“I thought we played really well as a team and had our shots on. We just played really good.”

Seacliff will battle the Central American champion from Costa Rica, as well as a champion from Mexico, in a test for ultimate futbolito supremacy. The teams will play each other round-robin style Friday, with the top two squads advancing to Saturday’s final.

Coach Bobby Bruch said Seacliff will receive its national championship trophies Saturday. The Sea Stars earned those when they topped teams from Chicago, Dallas and Houston in the national finals in May.

There’s also an indoor match between the U.S. National Arena Soccer Team and Mexico set for Saturday.

“They’re expecting like 4,000 people, fireworks and everything,” said Bruch, who himself played indoor for the now-defunct Anaheim Splash in the mid-1990s.

“It’s on the Fourth of July. There’s the patriotic aspect of representing your country and playing on the Fourth of July, and all the symbolism. I’ll do a lot of that symbolism in some of the speeches that I give to the kids, and we’ll walk out and present all of the teams with the American flag.”

Seacliff has had a balanced attack, as nine different players scored in the national championships, led by Mikaela Doe and Darcy Weiser with 11 goals each. McKenna Doe and Hailey Stenberg added eight each.

Yet it has also been a tough defense, anchored by goalie Kate Hart and also including Makenna Wigney, Savannah Knight and McKenzie Elliott. Hannah Howell and Maddie Anderson also contribute.

“Kate’s just phenomenal,” Bruch said. “Teams are going to need to be very good to beat her.

Hart as goalie might help Seacliff’s chances immensely. In the hour-long scrimmage with the North Valley Ajax — longer than standard 44-minute futbolito games — she made two diving saves in the shootout that helped Seacliff to a 3-1 advantage, after the teams tied at 6-6 in regulation.

“I’m really excited about going [to international finals],” Hart said. “I think we play pretty strong defensively.”

Futbolito has been a mainstay in Mexico for nearly 20 years, but this year Grupo Bimbo, the parent company of Bimbo Bakeries, has brought it north for the first time. And Seacliff, which has club players from North Huntington Beach, Beach FC, South Coast Bayern and Slammers, has taken advantage.

But playing against the traditionally strong Central American teams may present a whole different challenge.

“We get to see their playing style,” Elliott said. “I think it’s going to be pretty challenging, especially against Mexico.”

But one thing Bruch won’t do is count his team out. He’s seen them respond in clutch situations all season, from claiming the Los Angeles-area title over Peterson Elementary (also of Huntington Beach), to national champions and finally to this stage.

So as the Sea Stars play for their country as it celebrates its birthday, he fully expects them to do it with pride.

“It’s a really unique group of girls,” Bruch said. “To think that they would have an opportunity to play for a regional championship, then a national championship, then this, it’s a fantastic opportunity. It’s something they’ll truly remember and treasure for the rest of their lives.

“We’re representing the United States. Little old Seacliff from Huntington Beach, representing the United States against the world powers from Mexico and Central America.”