SoCAL GIRLS: La Costa Canyon Upsets No. 13 Torrey Pines
WestSideLax.com
Junior attack Jackie Mills registered a game-high six points on four goals and two assists to lead La Costa Canyon to a 12-9 upset victory over No. 13 Torrey Pines in a CIF-San Diego Section game Tuesday night.
Freshman middie Kiki Gibson added five points on four goals and one assist to help the Mavericks (8-4) win their fourth straight. Junior attack Jenna Hempsey and junior attack Caroline Kovary each finished with a goal and an assist.
Senior defenders Libby Schutte and Roxy Alei each scored once to round out the La Costa Canyon offense.
In the cage, junior goalie Taylor Langston saved 13 shots.
In defeat, junior middie Caroline Boucher had a team-high four points on three goals and one assist, junior middie Katie Trees finished with three points on two goals and one assist and junior attack Anna Knowles had three points on two goals and one assist for Torrey Pines (9-3), which had its eight-game winning streak snapped.
Defensively, junior goalie Carrie Yang saved 11 shots.
The Falcons lost for the first time this season to a San Diego opponent. Their other two defeats were to No. 12 Carondelet of the North Coast Section and No. 1 Cherry Creek of Colorado.
La Costa Canyon started hot, scoring the game’s opening five goals, and it was a lead the Mavericks would never relinquish. La Costa Canyon led 6-4 at halftime, but after Torrey Pines closed within one early in the second half, the Mavericks took command again.
“I’m very proud of my girls,” La Costa Canyon head coach Sara Fraschetti said. “They were cool, calm, collected and confident. They played to the best of their ability and trusted each other.”
La Costa Canyon's Libby Schutte, left, drives at the goal as Westview's Ali Potochniak defends (Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle - Staff photographer).
BY TERRY MONAHAN - Staff writer | Posted: April 14, 2010 10:12 am | No Comments Posted | Print
LA COSTA ---- Westview High entered a place it had never been before in girls lacrosse.
Undefeated thus far entering the Palomar League opener for both teams, the Wolverines went to La Costa Canyon, which has won four CIF San Diego Section championships since 2005. Westview has never even reached the finals.
Despite that disparity, it took the Mavericks until the final 17 seconds to put away the visitors for a 10-9 victory on Tuesday.
Roxy Alei, a senior, tallied the game-winner during a scramble in front of the goal. With Westview goalie Lindsey Warrick away from her net for a split second, Alei flicked at a ball on the ground and it went into the net.
"Coach always says not to take shots like that,'' said Alei, who scored three goals in the game. "I just went on instinct. I knew there wasn't much time left, so I just flicked at it.
"It was just a bad shot that went in.''
With 1 minute, 5 seconds remaining, Westview (11-1, 0-1) called a time out and scored the tying goal 20 seconds later. Kimi Fischer's only goal of the game ---- off an assist from Rachel Minarovich ---- with 45 seconds left.
It was the third time in the game Westview, which had two shots hit the post and had two free position shots that skipped just wide of the Mavericks' net in the waning minutes, drew even with La Costa Canyon (4-3, 1-0).
"After the game we asked the girls how many thought we could come here and win and only a few of them raised their hands,'' Westview coach Aubrey Cline said. "After the game they all raised their hands.
"In a big game for us, we brought it.''
In the end, La Costa Canyon brought it when it counted the most.
After the game was tied 2-2, the Mavs scored three straight goals for a 5-2 lead. After Cline called a timeout, the Wolverines scored three of the game's next four goals to draw close 6-5 at halftime.
That's when Westview hit the post twice with shots.
La Costa Canyon tried to control the momentum again with three of the first four goals in the second half for a 9-6 lead.
Westview closed in again on Holly Hayes' goal with 14 minutes left which was followed by Minarovich's third goal with 12:13 to play to trail just 9-8.
La Costa Canyon had a free position shot with Warrick way out of the net but the shot deflected wide. The Mavs had two more free position shots that failed, setting the stage for Westview's final timeout.
"I thought we were going overtime there, and so did the girls,'' LCC coach Sara Fraschetti said. "With the ball on the ground there, Roxy was the perfect one to be there. She has blinders on. She'll get to any ball on the ground.''
And just in time.
"I didn't want to go to overtime,'' Alei said. "My heart sank a little when they tied it 9-9, but it would have sunk more if that goal would have given them the game.
"I was surprised it went in. I told coach after the game, 'Bad shot, huh?' ''
Roxy Alei, La Costa Canyon's midfielder and captain, is known for getting around both sides of the field with her speed and determination.
CARLSBAD — On a training run a year ago, Roxy Alei set out to beat one of her fastest teammates on the La Costa Canyon High girls lacrosse squad.
While Alei charged out and sped away, her teammate was hobbled by an ailment. Alei finished first but didn’t stop running. She went back to assist her friend.
“I really wanted to beat her, but she hurt herself, so I felt bad leaving my teammate behind,” said Alei, a senior in her third varsity season on a Mavericks team seeking to win its fourth straight San DiegoSection championship.
It’s no surprise that Alei has become a team captain this season along with senior TaraMarie O’Connor and junior Jenna Hempsey. As Alei stepped into the role, she gained from observing past LCC leaders such as Tara Arolla and Jackie Candelaria, each playing college lacrosse in the Pac-10Conference.
“I’ve gotten stronger in leadership more than even lacrosse skills from seeing what previous captains have brought to this team,” Alei said. “I don’t like to be bossy or too assertive. I just enjoy leading by example.”
As the training run showed, Alei also brings a fair amount of speed to the team. From her D-wing position, she’s known for getting around both ends of the field.
“Roxy brings everything to the team, including humor and perseverance,” said O’Connor, who has known Alei since they were basketball teammates in seventh grade.
“She’s one of the hardest workers on the team. It’s just amazing. She’s everywhere on the field. I don’t know how she does it. She’s just an all-around athlete.”
Mavericks coach Sara Fraschetti, who took over this season after assisting previous coach Katie Dolan, said Alei responded well last year when matched against the oppositions’ top offensive threats.
“We’d ask her to mark tighter, tighter and tighter, and it was a lot of pressure,” said Fraschetti, a former LCC player. “Some kids will break, and some will rise to the occasion. Roxy rose to the occasion and then more. I was so impressed. She’s just one of those girls who feed off a constant challenge.”
Alei plans to play lacrosse at the club level in college. An honor student, she is still deciding on a school and likely will major in math or science.
Her interest in the lacrosse came from watching older brother Ben work out with his lacrosse sticks. Ben, who played two seasons of junior varsity lacrosse and also competed in wrestling for four years, attends San Diego State.
Through the influence of a friend, Alei tried out for cross country and ended up on the La Costa Canyon team that advanced to the state championships in her sophomore year. The distance running has helped her endurance and also fueled shorter bursts in lacrosse.
“I don’t really think of myself as that fast,” Alei said. “Just when I ran down the field, I mentally push myself. The one thing that I took away from cross country is that it’s a lot more mental than physical. You have to push yourself to get to where you want to.”
In the spotlight: La Costa Canyon senior Roxy Alei spearheads the Mavericks in a bid for their fourth straightSan DiegoSection title. The team captain and third-year varsity member figures to expand her role in the attack this year while continuing to be a strong factor at midfield and on defense. “Her aggression, speed, and stick skills are exceptional,” said first-year LCC coach Sara Fraschetti, a former Mavericks player. “She leads by example and is constantly striving to improve every single day.” Alei is part of a veteran core set to take charge following the graduation of standout Jackie Candelaria, now at Stanford.
Others to watch: Lex Becker (La Jolla), Coco O’Brien (Coronado), Camie Chapatte (Mt. Carmel), Amanda Cawker (Valley Center), Dana Christensen (Bishop’s), Nicole Diehl (Scripps Ranch), Annelyse Eggold (Torrey Pines), Michaela Guerrera (Coronado), Hilary Halter (Bishop’s), Holly Hayes (Westview), Jenna Hempsey (La Costa Canyon), Tace Higuchi (Canyon Crest), Taylor Langston (La Costa Canyon), Erin Menefee (Mt. Carmel), Katie Meyers (Rancho Bernardo), Jackie Mills (La Costa Canyon), Rachel Minarovich (Westview), Krista Morgan (Poway), Hannah Moore (Carlsbad), Christie Nelson (Santa Fe Christian), Amy Nham (Helix), Alyssa Padberg (Santana), Brittany Parrish (Scripps Ranch), Toki Prodnuk (Westview), Alex Reidy (Coronado), Hannah Smith (Rancho Bernardo), Robin Taylor (Poway), Katie Trees (Torrey Pines), Chelsea Yogerst (Torrey Pines), Carly Voris (Mt. Carmel).
Outlook: Three-time defending champion La Costa Canyon can expect a strong challenge from Torrey Pines, bidding for its first title after reaching the section final a year ago. Poway should also contend along with Rancho Bernardo, Westview and Bishop’s.
