Five straight early exits in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division 1 playoffs, three of them first round nightmares.

The 2015-2016 San Pedro High girls soccer team was not going to take it anymore and were determined to do something about it.

With the mother-daughter tandem of Crystal Valdes and Chatelaine 'Shadow' Ansaldi brought up from the junior varsity ranks to coach, and former softball coaching legend Tony Dobra brought in as a motivational mentor, the Pirates would not only come away with their best season to date, it produced a championship-like atmosphere that has not been seen in a long time, even if it didn't end with the big prize.

Winning an eleventh straight Marine League championship, while capturing their own Lady Pirate Cup Tournament for the first time in seven tries, compiling a school record 18-game win streak which ended in the CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinals is validation to the success of the 2015-2016 San Pedro News Pilot Prep Sports Team Of The Year.

"We just had this incredible bond," said senior midfielder Rianni Gonzales, the daughter of Crystal and sister of Ansaldi. "We were so in sync with one another and knew what kind of play someone was going to make, so everyone knew where to be at the right times. Also we loved each other so much and didn't care who made the winning goal as long as someone did, so our friendship with one another made us great."

That friendship also oozed extreme confidence and belief in themselves, that San Pedro (20-2-3 overall) can pull themselves out of any situation and rise from certain danger.

San Pedro's season opener against Chadwick of Rolling Hills Estates on December 2, 2015 is a perfect example.

Going up against a feisty Dolphins team, the Pirates would fall behind a goal, but would immediately answer back, and then it all ended in the 74th minute. Down 3-2, senior Heather Carlton found a crack in Chadwick's defense and would sucker the goalie in before tapping a shot right past her... slowly into the net to force the 3-3 tie.

"Although it didn't win the game for us, a tie is better than a loss," Carlton said of her clutch moment. "I just remember running through everyone. It was such a rush."

Carlton's sentiments on her goal would in a way, serve as a microcosm of their entire season.

After starting the season 2-2-2, San Pedro would begin the Lady Pirate Cup Tournament on December 21, and in essence, the genesis of their record-breaking winning streak, which started with a solid 2-0 victory over CIF-LACS Division 5 champion Harbor Teacher Prep of Wilmington. Suddenly, blowout victories over Cabrillo of Long Beach and Roosevelt of Los Angeles would pair the Pirates up with neighbor Port Of Los Angeles for the Cup on December 23.

Thanks to solid play from the likes of sophomore goalie Carlene Luna, and combined goals by the junior 'besties', Ryann Lozano and Sydney Engel, the Pirates would overwhelm POLA to a 3-0 lead in the first 24 minutes before eventually holding on for a 3-1 victory and their first Lady Pirate Cup championship.

"I think that we worked for this (the Cup)," junior defender Maddy Luna said. "We put in the effort and it paid off."

San Pedro would then pick up a forfeit win over Centennial of Compton and defeat Birmingham of Lake Balboa on January 11 before the streak really picked up steam by doing something they hadn't done in five years, completely run roughshod on the Marine League, outscoring league foes 55-1 in winning all ten games with deadly efficiency and little to no problem.

"I think that as the games went on, our team was able to find our own style of play," said Engel, who along with fellow junior midfielder Maddie Villela both made the All-City overall & Division 1 teams. "That style worked for us and we kept a positive mindset during our winning streak."

Once league play finished, San Pedro's win streak was a sweet 16, but then came a tricky Marshall of Los Angeles team that was eager to add more CIF-LACS playoff woes to the Pirates, who almost always draws a tough opponent in the first round which has led to their recent troubles.

Down go those troubles with an emphatic 6-0 victory on February 18, and then six days later the win streak would reach its highest point by earning their first playoff road victory in quite some time, defeating host and fourth-seeded Palisades Charter, 1-0 as a goal in the eighth minute by fabulous freshman Samantha Martinez was all the Pirates needed, thanks to Luna and their devastating senior-laden defense.

"I was extremely proud of our team but going into the game, and I don't want to sound cocky, I knew it was going to be ours," senior defender Lauren Antonelos said. "We all felt it the whole bus ride up and we knew what we wanted. So we had to go out and get it."

San Pedro had the same mindset intact on March 1, when the streak ended with a heart-wrenching 2-0 semifinal loss to eventual champion Taft of Woodland Hills, who was also responsible for San Pedro's first loss of the 2015-2016 season back on December 4. That loss itself, didn't dampen their spirits, nor will it ever take away the accomplishments of this special close-knit group of young ladies.

"We wanted to make it (to the finals) so bad, and we fell short. It was devastating," Antonelos said. "But despite that loss, I think our team did amazing and accomplished more than any other team."

Kielbasa echoed those sentiments: "This year I really feel like our team was determined to win every game we played because we played every one like it could have been our last."

San Pedro boasted a balanced team that had several weapons.

Lozano, the San Pedro News Pilot Prep Girls Soccer Co-MVP, scored a team-high 28 goals. Engel scored 18 goals, while Martinez scored 11. Others like Villela (8 goals), Gonzales (6 goals), Carlton (5 goals) and Kielbasa (4 goals) would also be crucial to the Pirates' success. Luna (78 saves) was spectacular at goalie and was flanked by a stifling defense that was spearheaded by Kielbasa, Antonelos, seniors Kirra Mardesich and Francesca Infantozzi, sophomore Angelina Camello and Maddy Luna, Carlene's sister.

Gonzales, Villela, Engel and sophomore Mia Leccese was a solid midfield tandem, while Lozano, Martinez and Carlton at forward was the perfect combination of size and speed, a daunting task for just about all of the opposition.

Perhaps the biggest part of the 2015-2016 season was the addition of Dobra, who led the softball team to 13 CIF-LACS titles and won over 700 games in 34 years of coaching the sport. His motivation itself was just as vital to their success as their own committment and teamwork.

"I think adding coach Dobra was a huge impact towards our team," Villela said. "On and off the field he would want you to have a positive attitude, and that's what helped us go so far this year. Coach Dobra is someone I can look up to and ask for advice about the game. Even though he has never coached soccer before, he still understood the basic fundamentals you need to be successful in any sport."

San Pedro also boasted solid victories over Cleveland of Reseda and El Segundo before the 18-game winning streak, which also means the Pirates won 20 out of 21 games after starting the season 0-1-2, another testament to the dedication and determination of this team.

"I think that the effort and heart of every player was left on the field after every game this year," Carlene Luna said. "Were losing some great talent so hopefully new additions to the team bring the same work."

If these Pirates that remain keep that same mindset, we could be talking about this team again in 2016-2017 with an even better ending.

SAN PEDRO NEWS PILOT PAST PREP SPORTS TEAMS OF THE YEAR

2011-2012: San Pedro High School Football (12-1; CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinalists)

2012-2013: Port Of Los Angeles High School Softball (28-8; CIF-LACS Division 3 champions)

2013-2014: Port Of Los Angeles High School Baseball (14-9; CIF-LACS Division 3 champions)

2014-2015: Port Of Los Angeles High School Girls Soccer (22-4-2; CIF-LACS Division 4 finalists; CIF State regionals)