The Hilltop High School girls field hockey team got off to a slow start this season by dropping its first three games. But a slow start might be a bit misleading if one considers the caliber of competition the Lancers opened the season against.
“We always play tough teams to open the season because we want to show the girls what they will be playing against,” HHS coach Janine Dare explained.
The Lancers faced off the season with a 2-0 loss to Mt. Carmel, a 2-1 loss to Bishop’s and a 6-3 loss to Fallbrook.
Hilltop recorded a 1-0 win over Helix on Sept. 17, but then tied the Highlanders in a rematch three days later in the Serra tournament. The Lancers then dropped a 2-0 decision to Vista and a 10-0 setback to the host Conquistadors to finish 0-2-1 in tourney play.
Toughened up? Hilltop faced off Metro Conference play with a 6-0 victory against Southwest on Sept. 25 and has scored wins in its following three league matches to up its season record to a more respectable 5-6-1.
The Lancers defeated host Otay Ranch, 1-0, on Monday to extend their current winning streak to three games following a 4-0 non-league loss at Vista on Oct. 2.
Hilltop defeated visiting Bonita Vista, 1-0, in a battle of early season league unbeatens on Oct. 9. The Lancers previously defeated visiting Eastlake, 3-0, in another key game on Oct. 6.
“We knew the teams to beat in our league were going to be Eastlake and Bonita Vista,” Dare said. “With Eastlake, our girls really wanted it, and knew they had to play together to get it.”
Xochitl Banuelos, Michaela Murphy and Reesa Moraga each scored goals against Eastlake.
Veronica Romero, assisted by Jasmine Ortega, notched the game-winner against Bonita Vista to break a scoreless tie between the teams with 10:34 remaining to play in regulation. Goalkeeper Vanessa Macias made three saves to collect the victory.
The Lancers have gone undefeated in league play since donning their pink jerseys for October. The pink jerseys are in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dare said her team will wear the pink jerseys throughout the month.
“With this being a female sport, this means a lot to them,” Dare said.
Hilltop put its 4-0 league record on the line in Thursday’s game at Chula Vista. The Spartans entered the match 1-3 in league play following a 1-0 win over visiting Southwest on Monday.
The Lancers start the second round of league play with a home match Monday, Oct. 20, against Southwest (0-5, 0-11).
Otay Ranch dropped to 2-2 in league play, 4-10-1 overall, following Monday’s loss to Hilltop. Bonita Vista improved to 3-1 in league play, 7-4-1 overall, after defeating visiting Eastlake (3-2 in league, 5-5 overall) by a 3-0 score on Monday.
Tori Hallmark, Boran Yoon and Tivoli Melnick each scored goals for BVHS in the win over Eastlake while Nancy Alvarez recorded the shutout. Alvarez had four saves in the loss to Hilltop.
The Barons host the Lancers in a much-anticipated rematch Nov. 3.
“This year’s team is a good mix of returning players and new players,” Dare said. “There’s a lot of synergy.”
