While spring break has not necessary been kind to the team’s line-up, the start to the 2019 high school boys lacrosse season has generally been kind to the Hilltop Lancers.
Hilltop defeated the visiting Otay Ranch Mustangs, 12-2, on Monday to win its Mesa League opener and, in the process, improve to 7-4 on the season.
“This year we have a much stronger offense and have a higher skill level,” explained Lancer head coach Pete Bishop, who has coached the team since its inception. “We’ve been able to handle the ball and move it down the field and that has allowed us to score more goals.
“We’ve been in every game, even the ones we’ve lost.”
Bishop said his team was missing players in recent losses to Helix (12-7 on March 27) and Santana (8-5 last Friday).
Hilltop sits eighth among 25 teams in the San Diego Section Division II rankings, according to statistics maintained by the MaxPreps website. Bishop noted that one thing the Lancers have yet to accomplish in their history is to qualify for the CIF playoffs.
That could happen this year.
“Our goal is always to win the league title, but the competition is always tough,” Bishop noted. “But this year’s team has a shot.”
Senior Kyle McLean scored three goals in Monday’s win over the Mustangs (0-10) while senior Andres Macias collected two goals and two assists. Senior Isaias Pedroza scored two goals while junior Terran Pineda recorded seven ground balls.
Goalkeeper Connor MacComber was credited with three saves.
Hilltop led 10-0 at halftime.
The Lancers play a non-league game at Fallbrook on Saturday, then resume league play at Bonita Vista on Monday at 4:45 p.m. Hilltop hosts defending league champion Eastlake on April 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Girls lacrosse: Castle Park wins South Bay League opener
Castle Park defeated host Montgomery, 14-5, to capture Wednesday’s South Bay League opener.
Castle Park scored six goals in the first half and scored the final eight goals in the second half.
Berenice Villalobos led the victorious Trojans (3-6) with three goals and two assists while teammate Ilinani Roche scored three goals and added one assist.
Janell Morales, Celeste Preciado and Allison Velasco each scored two goals while Anissa Diaz and Breana Mireles each scored one goal.
“Our goalies, Citlalli Fernandez and Kim Zuniga, were great in between the pipes with great saves on the evening,” CPHS head coach Chris Kryjewski said. “Overall we played as a team and competed together.”
Castle Park will put its 1-0 league record on the line when it hosts Southwest (0-1 in league, 0-3 overall) on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m.
Montgomery dropped to 0-1 in league play, 1-3 overall, following Wednesday’s loss.
