The Eastlake High School girls field hockey team ran off a string of three consecutive league championships from 2001-03. The Lady Titans look to be in possession of this year’s Metro Conference championship one way or another after recording a 2-0 victory at Hilltop on Monday.
The win raised Eastlake’s record to 10-0 in league play with two league games remaining. The Lady Titans entered Thursday’s scheduled home game against Southwest assured of no worse than sharing this year’s league championship.
“If we win one of our last two league games, we have the championship to ourselves,” EHS head coach Robert Blas said.
Eastlake hosts Otay Ranch on Monday, Nov. 6, and concludes regular season play with a non-league game against Olympian on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
The Lady Titans are having a remarkable 2017 season. Eastlake improved to 16-0 following Monday’s win over Hilltop, last year’s league champion.
Blas’s team has been scored on only once in those 16 games — that coming in a 3-1 win over Bonita Vista on Oct. 25.
The team otherwise has 15 shutouts.
Monday’s game appeared as if both teams would record regulation shutouts until team scoring leader Taylor Tropp scored off a short corner with 8:33 remaining in the second half.
Two minutes later teammate Olivia Sekimoto increased Eastlake’s lead to 2-0.
Marissa Garcia took the short corner to set up Tropp’s go-ahead goal; Ariana Lorenzana drew the assist on the team’s second goal.
Star goalkeeper Glo Hinojosa was credited with two saves in the victory. She has a goaltending average of 0.1 goal per game — so small it takes a microscope to see it.
Tropp scored three goals in a 10-0 shutout victory against Castle Park last Friday. The junior standout leads the team this season with 26 goals and 16 assists.
Tess Johnson ranks second on the team in scoring with 10 goals while Lorenzana has seven goals and two assists.
Britney Buu has scored six goals while Sekimoto has scored five goals this season.
Hilltop (10-8-2 overall) dropped to 8-2 in league play with Monday’s loss.
Southwest (14-6) entered Thursday’s game with a 7-2 league record.
CIF playoffs
The San Diego Section playoffs are slated to start Nov. 9-10 with possible play-in games. First-round action is scheduled to start Nov. 11 for Division I and Division II teams.
Quarterfinal games are scheduled Nov. 13 (Division II) and Nov. 14 (Open Division, Division I). Semifinals games are scheduled Nov. 15 (Division II) and Nov. 16 (Open Division, Division I).
The championship triple-header tops off the season Nov. 18 at Serra High School.
Eastlake stands No. 1 in this year’s Division II power rankings.
The Lady Titans earned the No. 1 seed in last year’s Division II playoffs but lost to Mission Vista in the semifinals.
Blas said last year’s playoff exit has been an obvious motivation tool for his team.
“The girls who are returning still have a bitter taste in their mouth about last year’s playoffs,” the EHS coach said. “They want to get back there.”
Blas and assistant coach Ashley Daily, a 2008 Eastlake graduate, cited the team’s work ethic, discipline and loyalty to the program as strong points this season.
“Working hard, hustling, trying to win every ball — it’s showing up in the results on the field,” Blas said.
“The returning players are taking the time to work with the younger girls to help develop them,” Daily added.
The 2017 season could develop into something extremely special.
Thursday’s update
Eastlake 5, Southwest 1
Note: Eastlake officially secures sole possession of this year’s league championship title with 11-0 league record, 17-0 overall.
