On December 8th, Bonita and San Dimas faced off at Bonita High School for their annual Smudge Cup rivalry to see who would take home the crown. This year, the event was held at Bonita High School and took place after the boys’ soccer game, which was part of the rivalry game. Throughout the day, the San Dimas Lady Saints were pumped up for the big game and showed it by wearing their Saints gear and gathering up for a team lunch before the bus came. The energy was high, and the captains were leading their teams to maintain this positivity.
In the 2024 Smudge Cup game, the Saints were able to pull off a 3-0 win and take back the cup. However, there are many new changes in the program this year. “Most of the girls on our starting lineup have never played in a Smudge Cup game,” Ava states. “The energy and nerves are way higher than a regular game, and both teams want it just as much. We just need to rise to the occasion and show everyone that we still have what it takes.” Lexington Melching talks about how “talent isn’t always the thing that wins; determination and teamwork can overrule that, and that’s what we need to pull this off.”
As soon as the whistle blew for the start of the game, both crowds started getting loud; the excitement and energy were there. Bonita definitely brought the intensity and pressed our back line, winning every ball they could. In the first 15 minutes, Bonita was able to score and lead it to 1-0. Many of the girls on the Saints team started panicking and playing kickball instead of staying calm and collected with the ball. The Bonita’s soccer girls ended up scoring 3 goals before halftime, making them feel on top of the world.
During halftime, the Saints discussed what they needed to work on and what they had to do to get a point on the board. “We need to transition the ball over to our midfield and offense to try and make an opportunity happen,” Destiny stated. “It’s frustrating that our defensive line is doing all we can, and the rest of our team isn’t giving as much effort.” The goal is to never give up, and these ladies still had another 40 minutes to go, so they still had a chance to produce something and possibly wait.
After halftime, the Saints were able to hold their ground for the 2nd half and switched up their style of play more. Even though they were able to hold the 0-3 score, the Saints were still not able to put a goal in. The final score ended in a 3-0 win for the Bonita Bearcats, and they were able to celebrate with the cup. After the game, many of our girls came out of the game with their faces all red and sweaty. You could tell that they were giving it their all and trying the best they could in the game. “We just need to work harder next time and play smarter to make more opportunities happen,” Coach said. “I’m so proud of you girls and the way you guys played, no matter what the score was.” Even though the game didn’t go the San Dimas Lady Saints’ way, they still fought their hardest and rose to the occasion.
