Warrior sticksters share league title

Fallbrook High School’s field hockey team shared the 2012 Avocado League championship.

The Warriors finished league play with an 8-2 record, which was identical to the league win-loss statistics of Vista and Rancho Buena Vista. “We were very competitive with both teams,” said Fallbrook coach Kirstin Mueller.

Fallbrook lost both of its games to Vista by 1-0 scores while defeating RBV in penalty strokes both times. RBV defeated Vista in both league games between those two teams. The three teams also shared the league lead after the first round of league play with each posting 4-1 figures.

Fallbrook began the second half of league play Oct. 23 at Vista, but the game’s only score came off the stick of Vista’s Marissa Sasano 14 minutes into the second half. “It was a pretty upsetting game,” Mueller said.

Fallbrook’s Dani Eells placed a pass from Lauren Copeland into the net, but that goal was nullified by the referee. “Fallbrook dominated the whole game,” Mueller said.

Rancho Buena Vista defeated the Panthers Oct. 25 to give Vista its second loss of the season while Fallbrook traveled to San Dieguito Academy that day and took a 1-0 overtime win over the Mustangs. The Warrior goal was scored by Kathryn Markham with an assist from Maddie Ashbrook. “That was a frustrating game as well. We had a lot of opportunities, but we just couldn’t get it in,” Mueller said.

Although goalie Jordan Dues recorded the shutout, starting defenders Erika Gonzalez, Heather Williams, and Kayla Wilson didn’t require Dues to make any saves. “The defense did a great job,” Mueller said.

Fallbrook’s Oct. 30 match at La Costa Canyon was scoreless at halftime, but in the second half goals by Emily Strickfaden, Samantha Main, and Markham gave Fallbrook a 3-0 lead. Copeland had assists on all three goals. La Costa Canyon scored in the final five minutes to close out the offense in the 3-1 game. “The second half was beautiful. They did really well,” Mueller said.

RBV entered its Nov. 1 game at Fallbrook as the only team in the league with one loss, but Fallbrook’s 3-2 victory in strokes returned the Warriors, as well as Vista, to a share of the league lead. Fallbrook closed out the regular season Nov. 6 with a 6-0 home victory over Mission Vista.