Gema a ray of light for Meteors
Garibay, who transferred to De La Salle for in-person learning, scores 5 goals in win over Lindblom
Junior midfielder Gema Garibay transferred to De La Salle from Washington High School in February, seeking an in-person learning environment during the coronavirus pandemic.
Playing soccer for the Meteors was a bonus, and what a great one it has been as De La Salle went undefeated in the regular season.
Garibay made her first playoff game with her new school a memorable one Tuesday, scoring five goals as the host and fourth-seeded Meteors rolled to a 14-0 win over 13th-seeded Lindblom in a Class 2A regional semifinal.
“I transferred for a better future and De La Salle, for sure, is making that happen for me,” Garibay said. “The environment at the high school was great. I made friends right off the bat.
“When I got on the soccer field, these girls were extremely welcoming. They made a spot for me and they included me in everything. I’m grateful for every girl on this team.”
De La Salle (14-0-1) will host fifthseeded Glenbard South — an 11-0 winner over 11th-seeded Goode — in Friday’s regional final. The Meteors have never won a regional championship in girls soccer.
“This school has never accomplished that, so that means a lot to us,” Garibay said. “All these girls are here for each other. This being the first playoff game, we wanted to come out in the first 15 minutes and put the ball in the back of the net to set the tone.”
The Meteors scored seven times in the first 15 minutes against Lindblom (4-4), with Garibay quickly notching a hat trick.
Garibay, who scored nine goals in the regular season, made it 2-0 in the sixth minute. After her initial shot was blocked, she leapt to meet the rebound in the air and headed it home.
She added three more goals in the first half, including one from 35 yards that made it 7-0.
De La Salle coach Carlos Nunez said Garibay has been a huge addition to the team.
“Gema is a charismatic leader,” Nunez said. “She just meshed immediately when she joined us. The kids rallied around her. She does a lot of dirty work for us.”
Junior Jazzlyne Orozco, who led the Meteors with 20 goals in the regular season, added a hat trick Tuesday. She said Garibay’s addition has made things easier for her.
“I’m happy that Gema transferred in,” Orozco said. “She makes our team stronger, for sure. She knows how to control the midfield.”
Garibay added her fifth goal in the second half.
Imani Coleman scored two goals for De La Salle, while Isabella Brogan, Mia Loza, Alondra Calvillo and Azucena Diaz contributed one
apiece.
Emily Samuels made one save to record the shutout, getting plenty of help from Loza, Joanna Mullen and Vicky Luna on the back line.
It has been a special season for the Meteors, who rolled to the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White title with a 10-0 record.
“I think what makes us successful is our work ethic,” Orozco said. “We practice six out of seven days, and we don’t take that practice time for granted. We make sure we push
each other to do our best and we encourage each other.”
Now, the Meteors hope to make some history.
“The two boxes that we try to check off are a conference championship and a regional championship,” Nunez said. “We checked off one of those boxes.
“Having been in regional finals and losing, watching other teams celebrate on our field, I’m hungry to win that and I’m hungry for our girls to do it.”