Girls lacrosse not winless in 2015

Fallbrook High School fielded a girls lacrosse team in 2014 for the first time in four years. The Warriors did not win a game last year, but the first five games of 2015 produced two Fallbrook victories.

"I'm really impressed and excited to work with the girls," said Fallbrook coach Bri Poteet. "I'm really, really happy and very excited, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the season brings."

Fallbrook's season opened March 6 at Del Lago Academy. The Warriors built up a 4-1 halftime lead en route to an eventual 9-3 victory.

"It was excellent. The girls have been working together as a team and building that trust, and it showed," Poteet said.

Madeleine Gillcrist scored five goals against Del Lago. Hannah French, Holly Hagen, Kailyn Williams, and Gaby Zinniger contributed a goal apiece. Fallbrook goalkeeper Heather Snider made nine saves against the Firebirds. Katelynn Rowley led the Warriors with three ground balls.

"I was really happy with the way the game went," Poteet said.

The win was Fallbrook's first since May 13, 2009, when the Warriors defeated Ramona by an 8-7 score on the Bulldogs' field. The 2014 Warriors were 0-15, including 0-8 in Avocado League contests. The Warriors, who did not have a team between 2011 and 2013, were 0-13 in 2010. Fallbrook's 2-11 record in 2009 included a 2-8 mark in Avocado League play. The six-goal margin of victory was Fallbrook's largest since an 8-1 home win against Serra on March 9, 2007.

The Warriors' league opener March 19 at Valley Center was a 14-1 loss. "We were all bummed. We tried," Poteet said. "They put up a great fight," Poteet said. "The girls definitely stuck in there."

Zinniger scored Ramona's only goal against the Jaguars.

Pacific Ridge, whose nickname is also the Firebirds, hosted Fallbrook in a March 20 contest. The Firebirds were on the winning end of the 13-3 final score. "Both teams were ready to play," Poteet said.

French, Gillcrist, and Zinniger scored Fallbrook's goals at Pacific Ridge. French had five ground balls against the Firebirds.

The Warriors evened their season record at 2-2 March 23 with a 10-7 victory over Murrieta Valley. "Within the first 30 seconds we had the first goal and from there we were just on fire," Poteet said.

The Warriors held a 5-2 halftime lead against the Nighthawks before the two teams shared the second-half scoring evenly.

"That would be our best game so far by far. We had girls making up to eight consecutive passes," Poteet said.

Zinniger led the Warriors with four goals against Murrieta Valley. Taylor Durick, French, Gillcrist, Hagen, Taylor Lackey, and Williams had a goal apiece. Gillcrist, Rowley, Williams, and Zinniger contributed an assist apiece. Zinniger had five ground balls and Gillcrist added four ground balls. Snider made 19 saves in the win over the Nighthawks.

During the game Williams injured her knee, sending her to the bench for at least two weeks. In girls lacrosse, 12 players from each team are on the field at one time. Fallbrook's varsity has 19 players and the junior varsity squad has 16 girls. The loss of Williams was augmented by illness, family vacations, and a Miss Fallbrook pageant rehearsal when Fallbrook traveled to Ramona for a March 27 match.

Ramona defeated the Warriors by a 14-2 margin. "It was an off-day for us," Poteet said. "It wasn't how they normally play."

Zinniger scored both goals and also led the team with seven ground balls.

Although the Warriors were defeated by Ramona, the two goals gave Fallbrook 25 for the season. Last year the Warriors were outscored by a cumulative 211-24 margin.

Janie Garcia is Poteet's varsity assistant coach this year. Junior varsity head coach Brittney Buerk and JV assistant coach Ashley Quarford are both currently also playing for the Cal State University San Marcos club. Fallbrook did not have a junior varsity team last year.

"I'm very confident about this season," Poteet said. "The girls are awesome."