Coach Makes Donation as Memorial to Player

A Manhattan Beach adult soccer league coach donated $600 worth of equipment to students in the Lennox School District on Thursday as a tribute to one of her players who died in a car crash last spring.

Danielle Mosher, 18, was an avid soccer fan, and her coach, Linda Finn-Valentine, thought that the best way to keep her memory alive was to support youth soccer players in the hope that they will grow to love soccer as much as Mosher did.

“This is the best way for Danielle’s memory to live on,” she said.

The Lennox soccer league is an unofficial league that was formed last year by teachers in the district as a way of getting students involved in positive after-school programs. Each elementary school has a soccer team that is coached by teachers who volunteer their time. Two Inglewood elementary schools joined the league this year.

Brian Johnson, principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Lennox, said the district is touched by the gift.

“Lots of these kids can’t afford [youth league] soccer,” Johnson said. “Funds are really tight so this will help us a lot.”