There are two weeks left in the high school girls field hockey season and Hilltop High School appears to be gaining momentum as it sprints toward securing this year’s Metro Conference championship.
The Lady Lancers defeated host Bonita Vista, 3-0, Monday afternoon under gray skies to improve to 8-0 in league play, 11-5 overall.
It was the fifth shutout victory in league play this season for Hilltop.
Head coach Janine Dare said this current group may be the best she’s coached since taking over sole reins of the program three years ago.
“The girls want to go to CIF,” Dare said. “Last year we went to the Division I semifinals, so they have a taste of it. I think they have a good chance to do it.”
With 13 seniors on the roster (out of 17 roster spots), there’s no denying this year’s Hilltop team does not lack experience.
Dare, who served as co-coach with Rita Delgadillo one season and three years before that as the team’s junior varsity coach, said it’s that element that makes her team so strong this season.
“Obviously, experience, speed and technicalities have contributed (to the team’s success),” the Hilltop coach explained. “We’re especially tactical and that comes from experience. The girls know my style of play by now.”
Veronica Romero led Hilltop with two goals in Monday’s game while Jaelynn Kamanu scored one goal. Goaltender Vanessa Macias was not called on to make a save in the game.
Bonita Vista goaltender Kylie Olsen was credited with four saves.
Karolyna Ramirez and Cheyenne Pence, along with Romero and Macias, are the team’s impact players.
Macias is a four-year player while the other three have been on the varsity team for three years.
Hilltop is assured of making the Division I playoffs this season, though just how high the team will be seeded remains unclear.
Hilltop has played seven non-league games with a 2-5 showing. Hilltop defeated Helix (3-1) and Temecula Great Oak (6-0) but has incurred losses to Torrey Pines (3-2), La Costa Canyon (4-0), San Pasqual (5-0), La Jolla (1-0) and Bishop’s (2-1).
La Costa Canyon (15-4) and San Pasqual (7-6) would make the Open Division playoff cut if the season ended today while Torrey Pines entered the week ranked 10th in the section — the No. 2 spot among Division I teams.
La Jolla, Helix and Bishop’s will also compete in the upcoming Division I playoffs.
Following Monday’s 4-0 win at Chula Vista, Eastlake (11-2 overall, 7-2 overall) jumped ahead of Rancho Bernardo (9-5-1) for the No. 1 Division II power ranking while Bonita Vista (5-4 in league, 8-6 overall) fell to eighth.
Both of Eastlake’s losses on the season have been to Hilltop. The Lady Titans boast an unbeaten 4-0 non-league record with wins over Mira Mesa (7-1), Mission Bay (3-2), Clairemont (5-0) and Madison (5-0).
Sophomore Taylor Tropp leads the league 19 goals while Eastlake senior captain Isabella Hook has 14 goals. Gloriana Hinojosa leads the league with 30 saves.
Hilltop defeated Eastlake, 3-1, in a marquee game on the Lady Titans’ field on Oct. 20.
Other playoff hopefuls include Otay Ranch (3-4 in league, 4-13-2 overall) and Southwest (4-5 in league, 7-9-1 overall) in Division II.
Southwest defeated host Castle Park, 4-0, on Monday.
Otay Ranch defeated host Southwest, 2-0, on Oct. 20.
A little lower down the Division II power rankings sits Chula Vista (2-6 in league, 6-7 overall). The Lady Spartans sport an impressive 4-1 non-league record with victories against Clairemont (2-0), Valhalla (1-0), El Cajon Valley (5-0) and Morse (3-0).
Chula Vista has lost two league games by one goal and two more by two goals.
“The league is getting stronger,” Dare assessed. “Southwest is a very young team but very strong. Chula Vista is another young program but competitive.”
Metro Conference Standings
(Through Oct. 24)
Hilltop 8-0, 10-5
Eastlake 7-2, 11-2
Bonita Vista 5-4, 8-6
Otay Ranch 3-4, 4-13-1
Southwest 4-5, 7-9-1
Chula Vista 2-6, 6-7
Castle Park 0-9, 0-9
