Field hockey earns fourth seed for CIF playoffs

Although Fallbrook High School’s field hockey team closed out its regular season with two losses in three games, the Warriors still earned the fourth seed in the CIF Division I playoffs.

“I was pleased to get fourth seed,” said Fallbrook coach Kathy Waite. “Getting fourth seed was very respectable.”

La Costa Canyon earned the top seed, San Pasqual was seeded second, and Torrey Pines received the #3 seed. The Warriors closed out their regular season with a 2-1 loss to San Pasqual November 6.

“We had a very tough schedule and we had some ups and downs, but we played an excellent game against San Pasqual,” Waite said.

That match was tied at one goal apiece before the Golden Eagles scored the winning goal in the final four minutes of play. In the previous match between the two teams, Fallbrook had lost 4-1 at home. “Much better than the first time we played them,” Waite said of the November 6 game.

The fires which cancelled all CIF games and practices for the week of October 22-27 resulted in cancelled league matches against Rancho Buena Vista and Vista. The Warriors finished the regular season with a 3-3 Avocado League record and a 10-10-1 overall mark.

Tournament matches can end in a tie, but non-tournament matches which are tied after both regulation and overtime are decided in a penalty stroke shootout. On November 2 the Warriors lost to San Dieguito Academy in strokes after the teams were tied at two goals apiece following 80 minutes of field play.

Although no matches scheduled for the week of October 22-27 were allowed to be made up, cancelled matches for the week of October 29 through November 3 were allowed to be rescheduled prior to the end of the regular season contingent upon the availability of officials. Fallbrook was scheduled to host Bishop’s on October 29, and that game was played November 5 with Fallbrook emerging on the winning end of a 4-0 score.

“I’m very pleased with how the girls stayed strong and ended,” Waite said. “Overall I’m pleased with the season. I have a very strong defensive group, a very good midfield and forward group.”