Girls Soccer: Tigers Advance In Injury Marred Game

The South Pasadena girls soccer team was certainly glad to have passed its first test in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs Thursday when it defeated visiting Pomona Catholic 2-0 in a Division VI first round match.

But the Tigers had bigger concerns as they lost two goalkeepers to injuries, and both were transported to the hospital.

“It was hard. The first half I think took an hour and 15 minutes because both girls went down,” South Pasadena coach Randy Lilavois said. “It’s hard to concentrate when that happens. Your mind is in an ambulance with them going to the hospital. As a matter of fact, it is still there.”

In the first half the Tigers lost starting goalie Angelique Ulmer to what appeared to be a shoulder injury. The injury happened in the 30^th minute. A Pomona Catholic player cleared a ball at the edge of her own goal box and sent it as far as she could down field.

The ball went as far as the edge of the South Pasadena goal box, where Ulmer raced out to kick the ball back. As she cleared the ball, Pacers’ forward Pricilla Perez, who was the furthest player forward for her team, ran into Ulmer.

Ulmer, who was unable to continue in the match, was whistled for a foul and Pomona Catholic was given a free kick outside the South Pasadena goalie.

Ulmer was replaced by Hailey Magana, who entered the game with protective head gear.

Eight minutes later Magana came out to make a save and was hit in the head by Perez, who had taken a shot that was far wide of the South Pasadena goal.

Ironically paramedics had arrived on the scene to observe Ulmer when Magana suffered the injury.

“I’m really anxious to get to the hospital to see how they are doing,” Lilavois said. “Angelique was complaining that she couldn’t move her arm and Hailey definitely got hit in the head. It’s unfortunate for two collisions with goalkeepers. Both of them are tough and both of them, if nothing is serious, will be back on the field as soon as possible.”

South Pasadena (13-6-5) moves on to next Tuesday’s second round.

The Tigers got on the board in the 19^th minute when Stacy Lee made a long run along the left side and crossed the ball to Mallory Downing, who tapped the ball it at the right post.

South Pasadena virtually put the game away in the 56^th minute when Tara Aalem was able to bend the ball inside the right post from outside the goal box. The ball curved so much that many on the field were unaware it went in.

“I just hit it because I was tired of dribbling the ball, and it worked out for me,” Aalem said.

If Ulmer and Magana are unable to return next week the Tigers have Kelsee Beck as their third-string goalie. Beck is a regular field player.

“Kelsey was a goalkeeper her first few years,” Lilavois said. “We can always rely on her to go into the net if we need her.”

Lee said the win was something the team dedicated to its two fallen goalkeepers.

“Angelique, her last word was just to get the win for us,” Lee said. 

Click on the photo box above to view Henk Friezer's photographs from the game.