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Girls Field Hockey

Hilltop, Eastlake challenge for respect

Posted Oct. 28, 2006

Hilltop High’s girls field hockey team christened the inaugural season of Metro Conference play last year with a 9-1 league record, advancing to the San Diego Section Division I playoffs with a 12-7-1 overall record.

Head coach Lynn Garcia has had to rework the Lancers’ lineup with the graduation of 12 seniors. Yet Hilltop finds itself in a familiar perch after the first round of league play: challenging for the championship.

The Lancers have done so, according to Garcia, with three returning starters, two returning non-starters and up-and-coming junior varsity players who have stepped up to play their best.

Returning starters include seniors Tyler Parthemer and Amanda Baldez and junior Veronica Mejia. Parthemer, a center-midfielder, and Mejia, a right wing, were both All-Metro Conference Second Team selections last year. Baldez plays a key role as the team’s sweeper.

Seniors Alyssa Gonzalez (outside midfielder) and Amanda Rhudy (right defense) are the team’s other top returners.
Players who have migrated up from last year’s JV team include senior center-forward Briana Waris, junior defender Cinthia Vizcarra and sophomore winger Marlene Canillas.

Waris had a goal and assist in Hilltop’s league-opening 3-0 victory at Eastlake on Oct. 7 while Mejia and Canillas scored the other goals, with Rhudy and Gonzalez picking up assists. Nadine Zuniga made the shutout with four saves.
The Lancers displayed their offensive potential in an 8-0 win against visiting Chula Vista on Oct. 19 as Gonzalez and Rhudy each finished with two goals and Canillas, Mejia, Vizcarra and Parthemer each scored once. Zuniga earned the shutout victory.

Hilltop closed out first-round league play with a 1-0 win against visiting Otay Ranch last Friday.

Eastlake, meanwhile, is fielding a veteran team in terms of experience this season. That was adequately displayed by the team’s 7-3 overall record heading into the second half of league play. Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Hilltop to open the second round of league play tightened up the title chase.

Maile Guerrero, Alana Ford, Dolores Blackwell and Valerie Hooker constitute the team’s core of impact players this season, according to head coach Dave Gallegos.

The Titans opened league play by defeating Chula Vista by a 4-0 score on a pair of goals by Ford and Otay Ranch by a 2-0 score on goals by Guerrero and Hooker.

Bonita Vista joins Eastlake, Hilltop, Chula Vista and Otay Ranch as Metro Conference members this season. Castle Park is not fielding a team this year.

Both Hilltop and Eastlake appear to be chasing unbeaten Bonita Vista for the loop lead.

While Eastlake remains one of the conference’s leading teams, the Titans have also excelled in non-conference games this season. The Titans earned significant prestige points after handing losses to both Rancho Bernardo and San Dieguito Academy when both teams were ranked seventh among section teams this season.

Gallegos is hoping his team can continue to play well enough to extend its season beyond league play.

Twelve teams in each of two enrollment divisions will qualify for this year’s San Diego Section playoffs. League champions automatically qualify, leaving the playoff bracket in each division to be filled in by at-large selections based on best records and strength of schedule.

First-round play starts Nov. 12 and continues with quarterfinal-round games on Nov. 14 (Division II) and Nov. 15 (Division I), with semifinals scheduled Nov. 17 and championship games Nov. 19 at Torrey Pines High School (Division I at 11 a.m. and Division II at 1 p.m.).

Top teams in Division I this season include La Costa Canyon, Fallbrook, Scripps Ranch, Torrey Pines, Vista, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Buena Vista and Mira Mesa. Top teams in Division II this season include Serra, San Pasqual, Cathedral Catholic, University City, Madison and Santana.

On an encouraging note, the Titans lost to RBV in strokes despite fielding just nine players in the game due to illness. Eastlake topped Valhalla by a 6-0 score this season in a display of the team’s firepower at full strength.

Gallegos said his team will have to continue its dedication to playing with heart in its quest to make the playoffs, if not win this year’s league title. “We’re taking it one game at a time. We just need to keep playing with heart and dedication throughout every practice and things will take care of themselves,” the Eastlake coach said.

Eastlake relying on experience for success 

2004 Interscholastic season

Metro Conference composite schedules

Hilltop 5, Chula Vista 0
Megan Morales scored two goals and Jazzy Rodriguez-Wagner, Courtney Crowe and Tyler Parthermer each had one goal in Hilltop’s 5-0 victory against Chula Vista on Oct. 7. Giselle Ibanez had two assists while Erica Martinez, Veronica Mejia, JRodriguez and Crowe each had one assist. Christina Amador had the shutout. Lancers improved to 1-0 in conference play with the win.  Hilltop’s junior varsity team prevailed by a 7-0 shutout, led by Marleen Conellas, Megan Reiff, Cynthia Vizcarra, Rachel Martinez, Kelly Haro, Briana Wares, Kristen Hamilton, and Nadine Zuniga.

Feature stories

Eastlake Titans team snapshot

Outlook: The Titans enter the first-year Metro Conference as three-time defending Harbor League champions. “We’re very young. We have talent. We got the girls who can play. With dedication and hard work we’ll be successful,” first-year coach Dave Gallegos said.
Top returners: Maile Guerrero (10), Alana Ford (11), Valerie Hooker (11), Jennifer Germany (12), Annabelle Howelle (12), Lauren Michaud (12).
Top newcomers: Jessica Leon (12), Leanna Davis (10), Cecilia Arellano (10).
Schedule highlights: first game (Sept. 7 at. Helix), first home game (Sept. 10 vs. University City), first Metro Conference game (Oct. 7 vs. Otay Ranch).

Will Eastlake win the first-ever Metro Conference title?

Eastlake Titans bring winning tradition to new Metro Conference

By Phillip Brents
Posted Aug. 30, 2004

CHULA VISTA -- As the owner of three consecutive Harbor League titles, Eastlake High’s field hockey team looks to bring some tradition into the new Metro Conference this year. Joining the Titans in the bold new beginning are fellow former Harbor League members Bonita Vista and Hilltop along with league newcomers Chula Vista, Castle Park and Otay Ranch.

“We’re very young. We have talent. We’ve got the girls who can play. With dedication and hard work, we’ll be successful,” first-year coach Dave Gallegos said.

Gallegos, who will enter the history books as the Titans’ first coach in Metro Conference play, is assisted this year by program graduates Kimmy Girard and Soli Gonzalez.

Top returners include sophomore Maile Guerrero, juniors Alana Ford  and Valerie Hooker and seniors Jennifer Germany, Annabelle Howelle and Lauren Michaud.

Top newcomers include senior Jessica Leon and sophomores Leanna Davis and Cecilia Arellano.

The six Metro schools will play one another twice in league play. Eastlake also has non-league games scheduled against Helix (Sept. 7), University City (Sept. 10), Serra (Sept. 14), West Hills (Sept. 28), Rancho Bernardo (Sept. 30) and El Capitan (Oct. 5).

The Titans open league play Oct. 7 by hosting Otay Ranch. The game should be an emotional one as the Mustangs are now coached by former Eastlake coach Katie DeFord.

2003 Interscholastic season

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09/11: Hilltop Lancers Harbor League preview

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2002 Interscholastic season

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09/12: Field hockey starting to catch on in South Bay