Field hockey places three on Serra Tournament team

Fallbrook High School’s field hockey team placed three players on the all-tournament team for the Serra Tournament which took place September 30 and October 7.

Goalie Lauren Woods, defender Rachel Maxwell, and midfielder Devon Holman were named to the all-tournament team. Woods was also named the goalie of the tournament for the second year in a row.

“That was great, especially when we didn’t move on after the first round of eight,” Fallbrook coach Kathy Waite said of playing three players on the all-tournament team.

Fallbrook won two games and lost three in the tournament, although the Warriors won two of their first three games to earn a return to the tournament the following week as one of the final eight teams.

The Warriors opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to La Costa Canyon. “We had an excellent game against LCC,” Waite said.

Two days earlier the Warriors had played at La Costa Canyon and were handed a 3-1 loss. The September 30 score was closer. “It was excellent. I was very pleased,” Waite said.

The Maverick attack September 30 forced Woods to make 22 saves, which was a personal high for Woods as well as a single-game tournament high. “Lauren Woods just did an awesome job in the goal,” Waite said.

The Warriors then won their two other September 30 games with a 3-0 win over El Capitan and a 1-0 victory over Poway. The Warriors were ranked seventh among the eight teams who would return to the tournament the following week.

Between the two tournament weekends the Warriors played their league opener October 5, hosting Vista and winning 3-0.

Fallbrook’s first October 7 game in the Serra Tournament was against Torrey Pines, who came away with a 1-0 victory. “Played an excellent game,” Waite said.

Fallbrook was then eliminated from Serra Tournament play with a 1-0 loss to University City.

The loss to University City gave Fallbrook an 8-6 record. Two of those losses were to Torrey Pines and two were to La Costa Canyon. “When you look at the record we played the same teams in the tournament that we’d already played,” Waite said. “Coming up against them the girls have much improved.”

In addition to the three all-tournament players, Waite was pleased with the team performance of midfielder Whitney Worley and forwards Kaitlin Gangnath and Hillary Price. “Those girls have really connected well,” Waite said.

Waite also praised defenders Kathleen Mellano, Kandace Kooyman, and Liz Green. “My defense has been very strong,” Waite said.

Waite noted that her praise for team execution among groups of players was not meant as a slight to midfielder Amber Bowman or center forward Savannah Saunders.