La Jolla played a long thriller at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista against Hilltop Tues., Nov. 17. It was the second round of the CIF Division I playoffs in field hockey.
After going scoreless through two periods of 35 minutes each in regulation time, the Vikings and the Lancers--who won their league title with a 11-0 record--then proceeded into overtime.
During the coin flip for overtime, the lead referee explained to the team captains that the two teams would play a 10-minute overtime of 7-on-7. Then, if the score was still tied, they would enter a 10-minute sudden death period. If no winner still emerged after sudden death, the two teams would face off in a shootout.
Sunset was scheduled at 4:47 p.m., with no lights available, so the head referee said he would allow five minutes of play beyond that, then suspend play at 4:52, if necessary.
LJHS Coach Lisa Griffiths selected Trisha Turner, Maya Hildebrand, Karla Quevedo, and Nikki Collins among her top seven entering the extra periods. The other four starters had to take a seat on the bench.
Neither team netted a goal in overtime. In sudden death, Hilltop had two balls entering the La Jolla goal annulled. So, after 90 minutes of play, the score was still knotted 0-0. The sudden death stanza ended at 4:51 p.m. by one reporter's watch. With sunset having passed, the referees suspended play before a shootout could occur.
That meant the two teams had to travel back to the South Bay the next day to complete the game, since Hilltop had the home game as the higher seeded team. In the shootout held at Otay Ranch High Wednesday afternoon, the Lancers prevailed, moving to the third round of the playoffs Thurs., Nov. 19. It took 25 hours to complete the game, in which only a single goal was scored.
The Olympic Training Center has a beautiful facility for field hockey. The artificial surface is even, in excellent condition, and has a water-softened technology to give the playing surface a cushion to support players, according to an OTC intern at the game.
One drawback, though, is that the field is not fan-friendly in location. With OTC officials not allowing family and friends attending the game to park at a lot inside the training center, instead they had to park in the lot just inside the main entrance off Olympic Parkway in Chula Vista. They then had to walk a bit of a distance up and down hills to reach the stadium, nestled beyond a BMX bicycle racing track and an archery range.
According to a person involved with the Hilltop program, Hilltop High does not have a field with artificial surface. As a result, if the team proceeds to the playoffs, it is stipulated that home games have to be played at the Olympic Training Center or elsewhere.
Copyright 2015 Ed Piper
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