Locals are futbolito world champs

One of the last things Bobby Bruch said he told his team before the game was simple enough.

Seacliff Elementary wasn’t about to play in just any old soccer game.

Here Bruch and the girls were, about 1,400 miles from home. They were about to leave in a van that had “Go USA.” painted on the windows and play Costa Rica for an international title in “futbolito,” six-on-six indoor soccer.

The day wasn’t just any old Saturday, either. It was the Fourth of July.

Bruch reminded his squad about the privilege of playing for the United States, especially on its birthday. Then, he put it all in perspective.

“As we leave this van we are champions,” Bruch said. “But when we return to the van, we will be world champions.”

And they were.

Seacliff won the international Futbolito Bimbo title Saturday at the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills, Texas, after beating Costa Rica, 4-2.

Seacliff, already the Los Angeles-area champion and then the national champion, also defeated a team from Mexico.

The arena was freezing, Bruch said, as it was a field placed over the ice. By the time the finals started Saturday, the field was slippery and Seacliff only had flat shoes. The opponents from Costa Rica had went out and bought shoes with rubbery spikes, he said.

But the Sea Stars came through again, and it was no surprise to Bruch. He coached CIF champions at Marina in the early 1990s, but this team was special.

“Of all the championship teams I’ve ever coached, this is one of the most talented,” he said. “They have what I call the ‘it’ factor, or the gift. We were able to overcome adversity ... this team has that ability.”

The event was part of a big weekend. It also included a trip to Six Flags, training with the U.S. National Arena Soccer Team and hanging out with competitors from different countries.

Each team presented its national flag to the other team. Seacliff also gave out gift baskets.

“That’s customary in international competition,” Bruch said. “You want to show that this is a little more than a soccer competition, a sporting event. It was great for the girls.”

Seacliff defender McKenzie Elliott said the gift basket included items like candy, lip gloss, a squirt gun and soccer ball temporary tattoos.

“It was really fun,” Elliott said. “[The final] was a really tough game. The field was really slippery, but I wasn’t nervous. We were just really proud to make it this far. We wanted to win it, and we did it. We were representing our country, and we won it for our country.”

Hailey Stenberg, who played offense and defense and even goalie for Seacliff, said she also had a ton of fun.

“It feels really good, like I accomplished something very big,” Stenberg said. “Soccer is very, very big in those other countries. It was really exciting ... It was really cool with all of the other teams. It was interesting to learn.”

In preliminary play at the international finals, Seacliff topped Mexico, 5-1, and blanked Costa Rica, 7-0. Including the Los Angeles regional, national championship and international finals, Seacliff scored 66 goals and gave up just six.

McKenna Doe scored four times at the international finals. Mikaela Doe scored three times, and Darcy Weiser, Maddie Anderson, Stenberg and Elliott scored twice each. Goalie Kate Hart even came out to score a goal.

Defenders like Savannah Knight, Hannah Howell and Hart also played a big role.

“You generally have to lose before you win,” Bruch said. “We just had that winning mentality.”

Stenberg put it more in focus, what it felt like to beat thousands of other competitors from around the world. Bimbo estimated about 44,000 participated in Futbolito Bimbo.

“I don’t think we ever thought that a bunch of little Huntington Beach girls would take it all the way,” Stenberg said. “It’s so exciting.”

The Team

 Kate Hart

 Savannah Knight

 Maddie Anderson

 McKenzie Elliott

 Hannah Howell

 Darcy Weiser

 Hailey Stenberg

 Mikaela Doe

 McKenna Doe

 Coach Bobby Bruch