NEWPORT BEACH – When Tuesday’s U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section first-round girls playoff game between Corona del Mar and Trabuco Hills stretched into overtime, the Mustangs had to be feeling comfortable.
The extra periods marked the fourth time in as many weeks Trabuco Hills had played in an overtime affair. The experience proved to be beneficial as the Mustangs outscored the Sea Queens, 2-1, in the two 3-minute periods, leading to a thrilling, come-from-behind 15-14 triumph at Corona del Mar High.
“We’ve been there (overtime) a couple of times. The girls knew what to do,” said Mustangs coach Scott Leong.
Tied 14-14 heading into the final three minutes of overtime, junior Jackie Huse supplied the game-winning goal as she circled around the goalie cage and quickly delivered a shot to the far post past Corona del Mar goalie April Tran. The Mustangs then won the ensuing draw and ran out the clock, giving Trabuco Hills its first postseason victory since 2009.
“The girls played like champs,” said Leong, who will now prepare his Mustangs (12-5-2) for Thursday’s matchup against top-seeded Los Alamitos, who ousted Dana Hills Tuesday.
“Los Alamitos is a very skilled and athletic team, but I believe we know what to do to play our best against them,” he said.
Trabuco Hills had to rally in the second half to send the game into an extra six minutes. The Sea Queens (13-8) controlled the pace early, literally sprinting out to 7-3 lead at the end of the first half.
“They just seemed way more athletic than us; we couldn’t figure a way to slow them down,” said senior attacker Hope Dodd, who led all scorers with six goals.
“I don’t think we were prepared for their stick skills and athleticism. But once we started to limit the turnovers, slow the game down and make good decisions, we started to get back into the game,” said Leong.
Trabuco Hills tallied the second half’s first four goals – two by Dodd and one each by Hannah Redwine and Huse – to take its first lead of the game at 8-7 with 17:33 left in the second half. After being held scoreless in the first half, Dodd caught fire in the second, tallying all six of her goals in the final 26 minutes.
“She’s a senior; she wanted it tonight,” said Leong.
“I was thinking too much in the first half. I needed to calm down and settle in. I thought this would make a good last game, but I rather play one more,” said Dodd.
Corona del Mar, who made a Cinderella-like run to the finals last season, responded by scoring four of the next five goals, including two by junior Kacie Kline, who also had six scores. A goal by Sabrina Smith with 2:54 remaining in the game gave the Sea Queens a 12-10 lead.
But the Mustangs were resilient, scoring three goals in the next 2:14 to take back the lead at 13-12. But Corona del Mar won the ensuing draw and Payton Carter tallied a form position goal with 27 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
“This game could’ve gone either way,” said Leong.
“A lot of close games comes down to draw control and mistakes,” said Sea Queens coach Aly Vislocky. “They were able to put it into the net. We weren’t calm and composed.”
The Mustangs had eight players score goals Tuesday. Carter and Sabrina Smith each had three goals for Corona del Mar.
Trabuco Hills goalie Cyrena Malkowski finished with seven saves, while Tran had four.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7309 or magarcia@ocregister.com
