Mira Costa Girls Flag Football Ends Historic Dream Run
Oct 26, 2024 08:58AM ● By Mb News Staff
After a dream season that included winning the first-ever CIF flag football playoff game in California by defeating St. Mary's, 24-0 on Tuesday, the historic Mira Costa girls' flag football run has come to an end.
Sadly, on Friday afternoon, the team suffered a 32-8 loss to Northwood in the second round of the CIF playoffs.
"While our run may have ended in the second round, the memories, laughs, and unbreakable bonds we forged will last far beyond any scoreboard," wrote senior Naomi Steiner on the team's Instagram page. "This season wasn't just about wins and losses; it was about heart, growth, and leaving everything on the field."
The team's accomplishments include an undefeated season and earning the Bay League championship title.
The team's multiple standout players include senior Sophie Guitron, who played for the U.S. in the Junior International Flag Football Cup this
summer, winning the gold medal against teams from Canada, Japan, Panama, and
Mexico. Guitron has her eyes on the 2028 Olympics.
Girls' Flag Football Exploding in Popularity
Girls' flag football has taken root in California, exploding in popularity in the past few years.
Last year was the first year that flag football was officially recognized by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as a sport in California schools.
In the CIF's Southern Section, there were 265 schools fielding teams this year, up from 169 last year. This fall, there were enough teams to have sanctioned girls' flag football CIF playoffs, so this was the first year of playoffs.