Hilltop and Bonita Vista high schools are the two Sweetwater Union High School District schools that have fielded the sport of girls field hockey for the longest period of time. Hilltop’s program got its jump-start in 1989 under then coach Janet Balsley.
Bonita Vista’s program started not long after that. The Sweetwater district teams competed in the Western League in those days as there weren’t yet enough teams in the district to field a complete league.
That changed with the addition of Chula Vista and Eastlake high schools; the subsequent admissions of Otay Ranch and Southwest have expanded the once fledgling Metro Conference to six teams.
Given their pedigree in the sport, perhaps it’s not surprising that both Hilltop and Bonita Vista have to be considered top challengers for the Metro championship each season, and this season was no exception.
The teams met Monday at BVHS, with both a league championship and playoff berth in the balance.
The visiting Lancers prevailed, 1-0, on a goal by Veronica Romero with 17:21 remaining in the second half to snap a scoreless duel between the longtime rivals. The play developed on a restart from midfield. Michaela Murphy was credited with the assist on the game-winning goal.
The host Barons had several opportunities to tie the game after that point but could not get the ball past HHS goalie Stephanie Alamo, who made two saves in the game to record the shutout victory.
Alamo’s play was a big reason for the Lancers’ victory; she is normally the team’s back-up goalie but was pressed into a starter’s role due to an injury.
Hilltop, which topped Bonita Vista by an identical 1-0 score in their first league meeting on Oct. 9, was pressed to meet the Barons’ spirited play for much of the game. Bonita Vista held a territorial advantage through most of the first half.
“The girls were nervous,” HHS coach Janine Dare admitted. “They knew what was at stake. They all had jitters at the beginning, but the second half, they came out and wanted it.”
The Lancers improved to 8-0 in league play, 9-6-1 overall, with Monday’s key win, dropping the Barons to 6-2 in league play, 10-6-1 overall. A Bonita Vista win would have knotted the teams with one loss each in the waning stages of regular season play.
Hilltop and Bonita Vista both have two more games left in the regular season.
The league champion receives an automatic berth in the upcoming San Diego Section playoffs.
“I told the girls that this game would prepare us for the playoffs,” Dare said. “If we won today, we would be in the playoffs. They knew they had to step it up.”
Should they emerge unscathed in their final two games to claim this year’s league title, the Lancers would participate in the Division I playoff field. Ranked teams include No. 1 Scripps Ranch (19-2), No. 2 Torrey Pines (17-5), No. 3 Rancho Buena Vista (13-7), No. 4 Vista (12-7), No. 5 San Pasqual (14-6-1), No. 6 Westview (13-5-1) and No. 7 Fallbrook (10-8). Hilltop is currently ranked eighth overall.
Metro rivals Bonita Vista, Eastlake (6-4 in league play, 8-7 overall) and Otay Ranch (4-3 in league play, 6-12-1 overall) are all in the mix for at-large entries. The Barons currently hold down the No. 10 spot in the division. Eastlake is 14th while Otay Ranch is 15th.
Twelve teams qualify.
The Lancers continued an amazing streak with Monday’s win: the Hilltop defense had yet to allow a goal in league play this season.
Update:
Nov. 6: Hilltop 1, Otay Ranch 0
Nov. 10: Hilltop 9, Chula Vista 0
Note: Hilltop finishes league play 10-0 with zero goals scored against them in league play.
