Varsity field hockey team posts pair of wins

A water main break near Fallbrook High School delayed the start of the Warriors' league field hockey season, but Fallbrook had a 2-8 record before the Oct. 4 break with wins over La Costa Canyon and Granite Hills.

Fallbrook defeated La Costa Canyon on the Mavericks' field Sept. 20 and won a Sept. 26 home game against Granite Hills. The wins were in consecutive games.

"We definitely have some growing to do, but every game the kids are just stepping up," said Fallbrook coach Melissa Maultsby.

The 2-1 victory over La Costa Canyon was the Warriors' first win against the Mavericks since 2014.

Erin Murray gave Fallbrook a 1-0 lead with an unassisted goal 9:46 into the first 30-minute half. The Mavericks tied the score with a goal six minutes into the second half, but with 17:26 remaining in the game Sarah Real scored the winning goal with a tip off Murray's shot.

"The LCC win was just huge for us," said Maultsby. "We were able to hold them off. That was definitely a game where our endurance paid off."

Murray scored three times in Fallbrook's 5-4 victory against Granite Hills. She scored with 4:47 and 8:41 elapsed in the game and also scored with 6:35 remaining in the second half. Fatima Roy scored her first goal of the season with 3:20 remaining in the first half, and with five minutes elapsed in the second half, Maiya Romero took a shot which resulted in a Fallbrook goal.

"It's really just putting all those pieces together," Maultsby said. "It's just getting them through the full game."

Only two of the 14 players on this year's varsity roster are seniors.

"Our kids are working hard," Maultsby said. "As long as we're improving I'm happy."