Eight Warriors given all-league girls soccer honors

Eight members of Fallbrook High School's 2020-21 girls soccer team were given all-league recognition by the Valley League coaches.

Panther Espinoza, Paige Gartner, and Rori Gartner were placed on the first team. Anay Garcia was Fallbrook's only second-team player. Cassidy Boulager, Jade Kennedy, Adrianna Madrigal, and Galilea Medina were honorable mention selections.

"Well deserved," Fallbrook High Coach Sergio Garcia said of eight of his players being honored.

Fallbrook was the third-place team in the final Valley League standings. The Warriors' 4-3-3 league record was part of a 6-6-4 overall mark.

Kennedy and Medina were the only Fallbrook seniors given all-league recognition. Paige Gartner, Madrigal, and Boulager were juniors for the 2020-21 academic year. Espinoza received first-team recognition as a sophomore. Rori Gartner and Anay Garcia made all-league teams as freshmen.

"A lot of young talent," Sergio Garcia said.

Paige Gartner plays both midfield and forward. "Paige brings a different dynamic to the team. She joined us as a junior," Garcia said. "She established herself as a captain, great leader, game-changer, and brings a dynamic to the team. Very intense player."

Gartner had previously been a Bonsall High School student. She was mentioned as a possible league Most Valuable Player although she did not receive that honor.

Espinoza is a center back. "Panther is a solid defender. This year she was our true defender," Garcia said.

Garcia explained that players who were not normally defenders were placed in that position due to the lack of players caused by the compression of CIF seasons. He also noted that Espinoza guided those new defenders. "Even though she's a sophomore, she plays like a senior," Garcia said.

Rori Gartner played center midfield for the Warriors. "A freshman making first-team varsity is a big accomplishment," Garcia said.

"Rori's one of the hardest working players I've come across, and it reflects on the field," Garcia said. "She scored some goals but did a lot of dirty work that doesn't get recognized."

Anay Garcia played both forward and midfield. "Very well-rounded player, very dynamic, and contributes a lot to the attack," Sergio Garcia said.

Boulager played center back. Kennedy, Madrigal, and Medina were midfielders.

Paige Gartner and Kennedy were the team captains this year.

"I'm very glad that a season came together," Garcia said.

The all-league selections were the fourth for Kennedy, the third for Medina, and the first for the other six Fallbrook players. Kennedy was an honorable mention selection both as a freshman and as a junior, and Medina was given honorable mention status for her 2019-20 junior season. Fallbrook won the 2018-19 Valley League championship, and Kennedy and Medina were both second-team players that year.

Four Warriors received all-league recognition for the 2019-20 season, including a senior who was placed on the first team. The 2018-19 league champions had nine all-league players including three seniors on the first team. Espinoza and the Gartner sisters are the first Fallbrook non-seniors to receive first-team recognition since Karina Bulli and Hannah Diverde in 2018.

"Looking forward to next season, excited that we've got a lot of good returners," Garcia said.

Five of Fallbrook's 2020-21 starters are freshmen. Other players will replace the five 2020-21 seniors on the roster. "JV did very well this year," Garcia said. "The program's looking good."