The Bonita Vista High School girls lacrosse team, knock on wood and fingers crossed, could be looking at another league championship in 2025.
The Lady Barons tied Mar Vista with 7-1 league records last season to share the South Bay League championship. Bonita Vista carries a 6-0 record into its final two league encounters this year: April 29 at Hilltop and May 2 against visiting Mar Vista.
At 12-6 overall, the Lady Barons are ranked 39th out of 61 section teams.
Metro Conference teams ranked ahead of them include No. 28 Eastlake (11-2), No. 29 San Ysidro (9-7), No. 31 Castle Park (7-9), No. 33 Olympian (9-8) and No. 38 Mater Dei Catholic (8-6).
Eastlake, San Ysidro, Olympian, Castle Park and Mater Dei Catholic are all members of the Metro-Mesa League.
Bonita Vista and Mar Vista compete against Hilltop, Otay Ranch and Southwest as members of the Metro-South Bay League.
The Lady Barons defeated visiting Otay Ranch, 12-2 on Monday after topping visiting Southwest, 21-0, last Friday. Bonita Vista topped Southwest, 23-0, in a league game on March 21 to further showcase its offensive prowess.
The Lady Barons will need to be firing on all cylinders if they are going to find success in the upcoming San Diego Section Division III playoffs.
“We’re a fairly balanced team on offense and defense,” BVHS head coach Ahmad Rice said. “A lot of returners are split between offense and defense. Our new players are split evenly.
“They’ve progressed every week. There’s more to go. We’re hoping to make a CIF run.”
Laurette Gonzalez keyed Bonita Vista with five goals and one assist in last Friday’s win over the Lady Raiders. Gonzalez and Natasha Yufe rank as season team scoring leaders.
Overall, there are six seniors on the team.
Eastlake entered the week with a 5-0 league record ahead of Castle Park (3-2 in league), Mater Dei Catholic (2-3 in league), San Ysidro (1-3 in league) and Olympian (1-4 in league).
But the league remains competitive from top to bottom. Eastlake defeated Olympian, 8-6, last Friday behind four goals from senior Jasmine Mishenko.
Season scoring leaders for the Lady Titans include freshman Emily Burgon with 23 goals and 25 points, senior Isabella Hiley with 12 goals and 13 points and senior Amelia Greer with nine goals and 10 points.
Mishenko earned MaxPreps player of the game honors in a March 28 non-league win over Valhalla.
Junior Leliana Roche (36 goals, four assists) keyed Castle Park with 40 scoring points while senior Xiclali Ramirez (27 goals, seven assists) ranked runner-up on the team with 37 points.
Ten teams are competing in conference play this season. The local competition is becoming more competitive.
San Ysidro defeated Castle Park to win last year’s Division III title in an all-South County final.
Castle Park defeated Mater Dei Catholic in the preceding semifinals. Eastlake defeated El Capitan in the opening round of the Division II playoffs.
El Capitan defeated San Ysidro, 6-2, to win the 2023 Division III final.
“It’s a slow growth,” Rice said. “The more girls getting involved because of the local clubs. It’s a matter of getting kids to play.”
Photo Gallery by Jon Bigornia
Mater Dei Catholic at Eastlake
