ALISO NIGUEL – Dave Elkins has been slowly building the girls lacrosse program at Aliso Niguel.
Elkins just finished his sixth year as the Wolverines’ coach, and it was his most successful yet.
One of Aliso Niguel’s goals prior to the season was to win the Sea View League title outright. The Wolverines did just that on their way to an appearance in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division semifinals and a 17-2 season.
The accomplishments were good enough to earn Elkins the honor of being selected the Register’s girls lacrosse coach of the year for 2013.
2013 All-County girls lacrosse team
Capo Valley’s Eggeman is 2013 girls lacrosse player of the year
“I was stunned, humbled, excited and very surprised,” Elkins said about his reaction upon learning that he had been selected for the award.
Elkins had no prior experience with girls lacrosse before he began coaching. So Elkins has had to call upon some Orange County lacrosse coaches, such as Los Alamitos’ Liz Connelly, so he could develop a better understanding of the game.
“I’m very indebted to the lacrosse community across Orange County,” Elkins said. “So many people stepped up and put the time in with me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The kind of work ethic Elkins displays is the same one he expects out of his players. He wants his team to play as hard as they can, and that’s the type of effort he received from the Wolverines.
There has been a steady progression for the program each season. Aliso Niguel reached the quarterfinals in 2012 then followed that up with a semifinals appearance this season, which was good enough for the team to finish No. 3 in the Register’s final season rankings.
Players have been developing along with the program under Elkins, as evidenced by two of his players, Hannah Noll and Gigja Hollyday, being named first-team All-County.
“He (Elkins) definitely pushed me to be a better goalie,” Hollyday said.
