Field hockey win avenges tournament loss to Vista

Fallbrook High School’s field hockey team defeated Vista by a 2-1 score Oct. 14 at Fallbrook, which accomplished several objectives for the Warriors.

The victory restored a winning overall season record for the Warriors, who improved to 8-7. The Warriors also improved to 1-1 in Avocado West League competition and thus the match against Vista provided Fallbrook with its first league triumph of the season. “It gives the girls a bit more confidence,” said Fallbrook coach Jeremiah Fuller.

The Warrior players also gained confidence by beating an opponent which had been on the winning end of the two teams’ previous game this year. In the Serra Tournament match between Fallbrook and Vista, the Panthers achieved a 3-2 victory in a penalty stroke shootout.

“It’s nice to beat a team on kind of a fair level of play,” Fuller said of countering the Serra Tournament result of the game which began 20 minutes after Fallbrook’s previous game ended.

The Serra Tournament began Sept. 20. That day, Fallbrook was victorious over La Jolla, La Costa Canyon, and Clairemont.

“The second part of that tournament didn’t go as we wanted,” Fuller said.

When the Serra Tournament resumed Sept. 27, Fallbrook’s first game was against Rancho Buena Vista. The Longhorns prevailed by a 2-1 score in that game.

In the Warriors’ other Sept. 27 game, Fallbrook and a better-rested Vista team each scored one goal during field play. That sent the game to the penalty stroke shootout, where the Panthers outscored the Warriors. “It was difficult. It was understandable. The girls were absolutely exhausted,” Fuller said.

Rancho Buena Vista and Fallbrook faced off again Oct. 9 in Fallbrook to open Avocado West League play. Although a goal by Samantha Main gave Fallbrook a 1-0 lead, the Longhorns scored twice before halftime to conclude scoring in the 2-1 RBV victory.

Fallbrook also scored first in the league match with Vista; Amelia Bell placed a shot into the net which was the only scoring during the first half. Tatiana Arias scored in the second half to give the Warriors a 2-0 advantage. A potential third Fallbrook goal was nullified as the ball was kicked into the net, and shortly afterwards the Panthers scored their goal. Fallbrook goalkeeper Taryn Sehnert made six saves against Vista.

Fuller believes that the Warriors’ record could have been better than 8-7. “It’s not indicative of how we played. The games we lost are because we haven’t played as a team,” he said.

Fuller cites a 1-0 non-league loss to Scripps Ranch as an example. “We played individual games,” he said.

“It’s two different styles of play. You play together and win together or you play separately and individually and you lose as individuals,” Fuller said. “I think we’ll do okay in league as long as these girls stick together and play together.”

Fuller believes that the teams in the Avocado West League are evenly matched. “It’s going to be challenging, and whoever shows up with their ‘A’ game that day is going to win,” he said.