Steady as he goes.
Spencer Pritchard is one of those blue-collar, lunch-pail types on the soccer field: He punches in, puts in good day of work and punches out.
The senior defender for the Santa Barbara High boys soccer team just goes about his business of clearing balls out of the box, tackling balls away from attacking players and covering for his teammates.
Pritchard’s work as a defender has been a key part of the Dons (20-5-3) playing in back-to-back CIF championships. He’ll be in the center of the defense on Saturday night when they play San Clemente (16-6-6) in the Division 1 final at 7:30 p.m at Warren High in Downey.
Pritchard started at right fullback on last year’s Division 2 championship team and moved into the middle with fellow senior Tony Alfaro this season.
“He’s more naturally inclined to play in the center, and last year we were able to use his ability to play on the outside and he really strengthened our defense,” Santa Barbara coach Todd Heil said.
Pritchard and Alfaro complement each other nicely on the back line
“Tony is more aggressive and likes to go up on the headers and I’m fine rotating back,” Pritchard said.
Heil said veterans Pritchard and Alfaro helped new fullbacks Nico Comati and Cooper Allebrand get adjusted early in the season. Now the foursome is a solid, cohesive unit that has allowed just two goals in the playoffs.
Pritchard has been a defender almost his whole soccer life. He started out as a forward in AYSO until a coach thought he’d be a better as a defender.
“We trust him to keep us composed, keep us disciplined and keep our shape, big time,” said Heil.
“It take a special kid to want to play in the back,” he coach added, “to not get the ink, the press or the stats, but understands what he does is just as important as anyone else on the field, it not sometimes more.”
Pritchard is that special kid.
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