JV Falcons Featured in Local Press 

The undefeated Torrey Pines junior varsity lacrosse team was the subject of a recent story in the Carmel Valley News and Del Mar Village Voice newspapers. Here's the full text:

"Torrey Lacrosse Girls Earn Rare Undefeated Season"

As anyone who follows sports knows that going undefeated through an entire season is one of the hardest feats for any team to achieve. But that’s exactly what the Torrey Pines girls’ junior varsity lacrosse team did this year, blazing through 21 games without a single loss.

Among the many marks the young Falcons set in 2007 were the longest win streak in Torrey Pines girls lacrosse history (20 games) and the most wins in a single season by a Falcon team of either gender (the previous record was 19 wins by Torrey’s 2003 CIF champion boys team).

“Every girl on the team brought an element to the field,” says first-year coach Amy Kivett. “Whether it was finesse, desire, emotion, aggressiveness, etc, it was this combination of very talented athletes using their abilities every game and practice that led to our success.” 

The Falcons also finished as the only unbeaten high school lacrosse team in all of Southern California and one of only five undefeated teams in the entire state. In addition, they won their conference (over archrivals La Costa Canyon and Poway) and the annual Surf, Sun & Stix Tournament, the premier JV tourney in Southern California. 

“There were so many highlights,” says Coach Kivett, “but I think the biggest one was the Westview game in the tournament, when the girls were down by six at half and managed to tie it up and win in overtime. It was a huge victory because it was the first time that they were not dominating in the game and had to come together as a group for the win. It also showed how much emotion and desire they had as a team. After the tournament, I think they knew what a talented group they were and that motivated them even more to constantly raise their own level of the game.”

At one time or another, the Falcons faced – and beat – every other major team in San Diego including impressive wins over traditional powers Coronado (16-4), Poway (12-8), La Jolla (11-2 and 12-1) and LCC (8-5). 

The team ended its season with a 9-9 draw at LCC in a game that came after several Torrey starters had been promoted to varsity and several others were sidelined with injury. The Falcons played much of the game with one or zero subs against a Maverick team with 24 girls on the active roster – twice as many as Torrey. 

The Falcons found themselves two goals down with the less than five minutes to play, but staged a valiant rally to stun La Costa Canyon and preserve their undefeated season. 

“Subs and injuries were definitely an issue throughout the season,” says Kivett. “We also had a couple of girls pulled up to varsity towards the end. Ultimately, I think this improved their game. Because we were short on subs we focused on passing, short cuts and quick midfield connections. Rather than being a hindrance, it actually become a great source of improvement for each of the girls.”
 

Element 5 Lax Summer League

Summer is just around the corner and Element 5 -- a lacrosse club comprised of coaches and players from Torrey Pines, La Jolla and Poway high schools -- is about to hold summer league tryouts. Here's the lowdown:

Poway Tops LaxPower Rankings
(posted May 7th)

Poway tops the latest LaxPower computer rankings of girls varsity teams in San Diego. The Falcons hold steady at No. 5, where they have been for most of the season.

LaxPower Computer Rankings: 
(Southern California ranking in parenthesis)

1 Poway  (1) 
2 La Costa Canyon  (2)
3. Coronado (3)
4 La Jolla  (4) 
5 Torrey Pines (5) 
6 Francis Parker  (7) 
7 Westview (11) 
8 Rancho Bernardo (12) 
9 Cathedral Catholic (13) 
10 San Dieguito Academy (14)
11 Carlsbad  (15) 
12 Scripps Ranch  (17) 
13 Bishop’s School (20) 
14 Mt Carmel (22) 
15 Patrick Henry (23)
16 Preuss School (24) 
17 Helix Charter (25) 
18 Valley Center  (30) 
19 Fallbrook  (33) 
 20 Santana (34)

Falcons featured in North County Times:

The unusual controversy that swirled around the Torrey Pines varsity game vs. Carlsbad last week was the subject of an article in the NC Times newspaper. 

"Battle of makeshift squads goes to Torrey" 

By: SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer 

CARLSBAD -- Carlsbad High's girls lacrosse match with Torrey Pines was played with a skeleton crew.

A total of 10 starters -- six Lancers and four Falcons -- were held out of Torrey Pines' 10-2 victory Wednesday evening on a recommendation from the CIF San Diego Section.

Those girls participated in a tryout for a regional team that will compete in the U.S. Lacrosse Girls Division National Tournament on Memorial Day weekend at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn.

Questions arose about the eligibility of those who tried out and whether the tryout was sanctioned by the CIF, causing the section office to recommend holding those players out until commissioner Dennis Ackerman could make a formal decision on the matter.

To read the rest of the story click on the following link: 
www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/26/sports/highschool/22_28_094_25_07.txt

Summer Camp Directory

The first in a series of links to lax summer camps in San Diego, Southern California and elsewhere:

SOCAL LAX ELITE
Girls lacrosse camp
Whittier College (Orange County)
June 22-25
c/o Lightning Lacrosse Camps
www.lightninglax.com
(877) 812-2219
contact: Jimmy Simpson

La Jolla Wins Stanford Tourney

La Jolla beat La Costa Canyon 9-7 in a hard-fought final to win the Stanford Western States Lacrosse Tournament, April 8th in Palo Alto. It was the second major tourney victory for the Vikings this season, who also captured the Surf, Sun & Stix in San Diego. 

WestsideLax: Poway Survives Inspired Torrey Pines, 10-9 

Junior middie Kelly Jablonski scored three goals to lead Poway to a surprisingly-difficult, 10-9 victory over Torrey Pines in a CIF-San Diego Section North County Conference game Monday.

Senior middie Brandi Jones added three points on a goal and two assists, and senior middie Alyse Lasater and junior attack S.J. Gallen each scored twice to help the Titans (6-0) stay unbeaten. Lindsay Short and Jacklyn Taylor added single goals in Poway's closest game of the season by far.

Poway led 5-3 at halftime and had a 9-5 lead with about 10 minutes remaining. But Torrey Pines fought back to scored three unanswered goals and close within, 9-8, after sophomore middie Becky Trees scored with 4:16 remaining. Jablonski gave Poway a two-goal cushion when she scored with 2:28 remaining, and Poway needed it.

Senior middie Sofia Lama brought Torrey Pines back within a goal when she scored with 34 seconds to play, but Poway won the ensuing draw and ran out the clock.

"We came out relatively slow, and our passing and catching was off," Poway Coach Kristy Gallagher said. "There was just a lack of focus. Torrey was really intense and beat us to ground balls. We lacked a lot of intensity."

In a losing effort, Trees had a game-high five points on three goals and two assists, junior attack Tori Cameron finished with four points on three goals and an assist and Lama scored twice. Junior attack Stephanie Doyle added a goal for the Falcons (6-3).

"We were really, really excited about the game," Torrey Pines Coach Amanda Bourquin said. "We definitely took it as a moral victory for our team. I'm just proud of all the girls." (from www.westsidelax.com)

Varsity SS&S Results

For those who are interested, La Jolla won the Gold Division of the varsity Surf, Sun & Stix Tournament with a 6-3 victory over Miramonte of northern California in the title game on Saturday. LJ advanced to the final with a 9-8 win over defending champ Coronado; Miramonte beat St Ignatius Prep 6-5 in the other semi. Westview captured the Silver Division crown with a 14-8 win over Patrick Henry. 

2007 Surf, Sun & Stix Tournamente Varsity Results:
GOLD BRACKET
Championship: 
La Jolla 6, Miramonte 3
Semifinals:
La Jolla 9, Coronado 8
Miramonte 6, St. Ignatius  5
Pool Play:
St. Ignatius 7, Carlsbad 1
Coronado 10, Cathedral 4
Coronado 9, Carlsbad 4
St. Ignatius 8, Cathedral 6
St. Ignatius 4, Coronado 3
Carlsbad 7, Cathedral 6
La Jolla 12, St. Margaret's  10
Miramonte 7, Rancho Bernardo 5
Rancho Bernardo 13, St. Margaret's 10
La Jolla 10, Miramonte 8
La Jolla 8, Rancho Bernardo 6
Miramonte 14, St. Margaret's  8
Consolation:
Carlsbad 10, St. Margaret's 7
Rancho Bernardo 12, Cathedral 5

SILVER BRACKET
Championship:
Westview 14, Patrick Henry 8
Semifinals:
Patrick Henry 15, Bonita Vista 7
Westview 12, Santana 2
Pool Play:
Santana 5,  Monte Vista 4
Patrick Henry 12, Canyon Crest 5
Santana 11, Canyon Crest 7
Patrick Henry 10, Monte Vista 4
Monte Vista 12, Canyon Crest 5
Patrick Henry 4, Santana 3
Bonita Vista 10, Valley Center 6
Westview 13, Granite Hills 3
Valley Center 15, Granite Hills 4
Westview 8, Bonita Vista 6
Bonita Vista 12, Granite Hills 4
Westview 12, Valley Center 3
Consolation:
Monte Vista 7, Granite Hills 5
Valley Center 12, Canyon Crest 3

Falcons ranked 13th in Western pre-season poll

Torrey Pines ranks 13th in the Western U.S in the West Side Lacrosse high school girls preseason poll. Poway, the defending CIF champ, is ranked number one in the West, followed by 2006 CIF runner-up La Costa Canyon. Other ranked schools on the Falcons’ 2007 varsity schedule include San Francisco’s St Ignatius Prep (No. 4), Coronado (12), La Jolla (16) and Menlo (18).

West Side Lacrosse also picked the Torrey girls to finish third in the San Diego North County Conference this season, behind Poway and LCC. 

WSL Girls High School Pre-Season Top 20:

1. Poway (San Diego)
2. La Costa Canyon (San Diego)
3. Lake Oswego (Oregon)
4. St. Ignatius Prep (Nor Cal) 
5. San Ramon Valley (Nor Cal)
6. Horizon (Arizona)
7. Lakeside (Washington)
8. Lincoln (Oregon)
9. Amador Valley (Nor Cal)
10. Bainbridge (Washington)
11. Chaparral (Arizona)
12. Coronado (San Diego)
13. Torrey Pines (San Diego)
14. California (Nor Cal)
15. Miramonte (Nor Cal)
16. La Jolla (San Diego)
17. San Francisco University (Nor Cal)
18. Menlo (Nor Cal)
19. Sunset (Oregon)
20. Sheldon (Oregon)
 

Websites of teams we play in 2007:

  Bishop's School
  Carlsbad
  Corona Del Mar (JV only) 
  Fallbrook
  Francis Parker
  La Costa Canyon
  La Jolla
  Mt. Carmel  and  Sundevil Athletics
  Patrick Henry (JV only)
  Poway
  Rancho Bernardo
  St Ignatius Prep (San Francisco)
  Menlo School (Atheron CA)
  Stowe School (Buckingham, England) 
  Valley Center
  Westview

  CIF San Diego Section
  National Federation of State High School Associations (nfhs.org)
  TPHS Athletics Page

Other Lacrosse Links:

  West Side Lacrosse
  WomensLax.Com
  Lacrosse Zone
  Lacrosse Primer, "Lacrosse 101"
  LaxLinks, Lacrosse's Launch Pad

Tools for making your own Lacrosse College Recruiting Videos:

Adobe Premiere Elements, affordable and well-featured non-linear editing (edit videos on your computer).
Windows Movie Maker 2 comes free with Microsoft Windows XP, but it's not as capable as Adobe Premiere or Premiere Elements.
The videos on the 2005 website were produced using programs in the Adobe Video Collection - mainly Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 and Adobe After Effects 6.5
The Music Bakery has a nice collection of royalty-free music in an easily searchable form on their website. The music in the La Jolla game highlights, "Roller Coaster", is from The Music Bakery.

Royalty Free Music from The Music Bakery

Some of our older web pages of past years:

The 2006 THPS Girls' Lacrosse web page can still be viewed at: http://www.tphslax.com/2006pages,
The 2005 THPS Girls' Lacrosse web page can still be viewed at: http://www.tphslax.com/2005pages,
The 2004 THPS Girls' Lacrosse web page can still be viewed at: http://www.tphslax.com/2004pages,
The 2003 TPHS Girls' Lacrosse web page is still available at: http://www.thewileys.org/tphs-lacrosse
And check out TPHS Girls' Field Hockey at: http://www.tpfieldhockey.com; fun videos there too.