California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

California Lutheran University's Student Newspaper Since 1961

The Echo

Sophomore Goalkeeper Blocks Her Way into the Record Books

Sophomore goalkeeper Gabby Flores is tied for fourth in the Cal Lutheran record books for solo shutouts, just two shutouts behind the 2012 record set by her goalkeeper coach, Kiki Bailey.  Photo by Sarah Harber -Photojournalist
Sophomore goalkeeper Gabby Flores is tied for fourth in the Cal Lutheran record books for solo shutouts, just two shutouts behind the 2012 record set by her goalkeeper coach, Kiki Bailey.
Photo by Sarah Harber -Photojournalist

Sophomore goalkeeper Gabby Flores is a testimony that hard work pays off. Coming off an unbelievable season, the three-time SCIAC defensive athlete of the week (Sept. 3, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29) put up all-star numbers and blocked her way into the record books.

Allowing just four goals in 1,115 minutes and recording 48 saves, Flores entered the postseason ranked first in the nation in Division III womenโ€™s soccer for goals against average and save percentage.ย 

But the hours of work put in to get there started long before Flores stepped on the pitch this season.

During her sophomore year of high school, Flores realized her dream of playing collegiate soccer. After receiving multiple looks from bigger schools, Flores decided on California Lutheran University because of the team dynamic and the close nature of the players and coaching staff.

โ€œI came from a club team where we werenโ€™t just a team; we were a family,โ€ Flores said.ย  โ€œAnd I was really looking for somewhere in the collegiate level that had that and I found that Cal Lu was the place to be for that.โ€

In her first season at Cal Lutheran, Flores played a huge role in helping the Regals advance to their first-ever Sweet Sixteen tournament before falling to Williams College.

โ€œWhen we went to the Sweet Sixteen, we learned what a really good, talented team looks like at the highest level that weโ€™d seen,โ€ Flores said. โ€œWhat we took from that was, thatโ€™s where we want to be. Thatโ€™s the kind of dynamic, passing and technical skills that we want to have and it helped us out a lot this year.โ€

Regals former goalkeeper and current goalkeeper coach Kiki Bailey attributes Floresโ€™ success this season to her learning experiences in the Sweet Sixteen and to the hard work put in during the offseason.

โ€œComing off of her freshman year, she saw all of the areas that she needed to grow in,โ€ Bailey said. โ€œThis summer, I definitely noticed that she put in the time to work on the footwork and it showed this year being quicker on her feet and getting to those higher shots, so the work definitely paid off.โ€ ย  ย 

And pay off it did. In her second year in goal for the Regals, Flores recorded eight complete-game shutouts, tying for fourth in the Cal Lutheran record books for solo shutouts in a single season.

โ€œI attribute a lot of it to my backline because Iโ€™m nothing without them,โ€ Flores said. โ€œI always took it as if they get through my backline, then they have done everything they can to prevent that, and now itโ€™s my turn to say โ€˜bring itโ€™ and Iโ€™m going to take this responsibility and have my teammatesโ€™ back, just like they have my back.โ€

Flores said she doesnโ€™t pay attention to the her stats or rankings during the season.

โ€œItโ€™s my job and my responsibility as a goalie and a teammate to be there for my team to work hard so that we can get the win as a team,โ€ Flores said.ย 

Bailey, who is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in Cal Lutheran history, loves working with Flores and is excited to watch her climb her way into the record books.

โ€œItโ€™s great working with someone whoโ€™s really driven, that never settles, and is willing to work hard because it reminds me a lot of myself,โ€ Bailey said. โ€œShe is constantly pushing herself and to have somebody who is that dedicated to her sport and to making herself better is a huge compliment and I love to see her chasing down my records.โ€

Along with practicing with her teammates, Flores consistently works out with a personal strength coach, boxes and participates in the Air Force Reserve Officersโ€™ Training Corps at UCLA.

โ€œWork ethic means a lot to me,โ€ Flores said. โ€œI learned from my club coach that if you donโ€™t do your work, even when youโ€™re not expected to do work, youโ€™re just going to settle for mediocrity.โ€

Flores credits her experience in ROTC as one reason she was able to stay so level-headed Nov. 7, when she was one of the people at the Borderline Bar and Grill shooting. During the horrific night, Flores was among those helping people escape, tending to the wounded and trying to help in any way she could.

โ€œIโ€™ve always wanted to be out there helping, whether it was becoming a firefighter or EMT,โ€ Flores said. โ€œSeeing people injured, seeing people hurt, I just want to be there to help no matter what.โ€

Flores said one of her first thoughts was to make sure her team was safe.

โ€œWhen I was at the shooting and I heard those shots, I wasnโ€™t thinking about myself or any of my accolades, I was just thinking about my team,โ€ Flores said. โ€œThe very first people I texted was our team group chat telling them not to come and the first person to actually call me was Trinity.โ€

Sophomore defender Trinity Martinez is not only a teammate of Flores, but also one of her strongest encouragers and close friends. Martinez was sitting in her dorm room when she got the text and immediately called Flores.

โ€œWhen she answered, it sounded like she was running and she said, โ€˜Hang on,โ€™ so she just put me in her pocket,โ€ Martinez said. โ€œFor a while, all I could hear were sirens and people screaming until she got to safety and was able to talk to me. It was really scary and I felt helpless, but I knew that just being on the phone for her I think helped her a little bit more.โ€

Flores said when one of her friends found out she had stayed at the scene to help other survivors, they werenโ€™t surprised. They told Flores, โ€œOf course you stayed.โ€

For Flores, her expectations for next year are to use the past two seasons as learning experiences. After finishing a great season and surviving a life-altering tragedy, she looks to push herself and her teammates out of their comfort zone and continue to work hard.

โ€œI love Muhammad Ali and I live by one of his quotes,โ€ Flores said. โ€œโ€˜Put in the work and suffer now, so that you can be a champion later.โ€™ And thatโ€™s what Iโ€™m going to push myself to do.โ€

Scott Roberts
Reporter

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