The Varsity Soccer team is now part of Immaculate Heart’s Hall of Fame after winning its first CIF Southern Section Division 4 Championship!
After celebrating this historic victory with the school community, the team recently gained even more recognition when sophomore Alexis Grimes received Player of the Year honors for CIF Division 4 and Coach Kevin Cadenas was named CIF Coach of the Year – both impressive achievements! Additionally, players Gwen Pithie, Genesis Escobar and Bianca Bryan were selected for Girls Soccer All CIF Team Division 4, highlighting the overall talent of our team. This year’s team featured Panda players across all grade levels, including nine seniors, six juniors (including myself), five sophomores, and two freshmen, one of which served as our
goalie. (An honorable mention also goes to my bench buddies: Ava, Arden, Ashima and Evie).
After a long season, the Pandas were pleased to earn a spot in the Division 4 CIF Southern Section playoffs. However, it is safe to say our spirits were somewhat low after failing to win the league title, our original goal. Advancing to the playoffs for a crack at the division title – something that IH has never done before – felt like an even more impossible goal.
After winning our semifinal game in Chino and advancing to CIF finals, Coach Kevin asked if any player thought we would make it this far, and only one person raised their hand, highlighting just how unexpected and hard-earned our success truly was. Said sophomore Josie Green, “I honestly didn’t think we would even get close to winning CIF, but after every CIF game, the dream of winning a championship became more real.”
The team’s confidence grew with each passing game, Green noted, and soon talk of a receiving a CIF ring became more common at practice. In Immaculate Heart’s soccer history, only a few Panda teams have ever reached the quarterfinals or semifinals, but IH had never made it to the finals. In fact, no team sport in the school has ever won a CIF title. However, once we got there, it was clear we were playing to win.
With nearly 600 people in attendance at the championship game, the energy was high, and when the opposing team, San Jacinto, barely arrived in time to play, it only added to our momentum and gave us a strong home-field advantage. Senior Genesis Escobar described the high energy surrounding the team that evening: “On the field during the CIF final game, it felt like playing in a professional match, with the crowd roaring and pushing us forward every minute,” Escobar said.
“What stands out most to me is celebrating that victory together, looking into the stands, and seeing pure excitement and pride,” Escobar recalled. “Knowing that our community stayed with us, cheering us on through all 110+ minutes, made the win even more meaningful. It is something I’ll always remember.”
From the sideline, the game was one of the most stressful experiences I have ever had. The crowd was louder than ever, the opposing team more aggressive, and the stakes were incredibly high. After a hard-fought match, the score remained 0–0 through overtime, sending us into a penalty shootout, which we then won. Winning the CIF title was an unforgettable moment for the players, including sophomore Ella Payne, who said, “Winning the CIF title showed our team’s bond and how every person contributed something to help us win.”
Senior Marisa Cunningham added, “There are a lot of seniors on the team, so getting to have such a major season with my close friends and the people I have played with since freshman year was so special. I loved the different dynamics and how well we blended. There was always someone laughing, and the whole team was just always excited for what was next. I think the ways we lifted each other up, both on and off the field, really allowed us to trust one another and push each other to succeed.”
The team’s sense of unity and trust ultimately became the foundation for the team’s historic success. Overall, this team was especially unique this year, with our coaches guiding us to become better players both on and off the field. We also received incredible support from our parents and classmates – which is something we will always appreciate. More than anything, we consistently worked together, built strong bonds, and had fun along the way. Beyond winning a championship title, this season was truly meaningful because it brought us closer as a team and made every practice and game something to look forward to.
