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| The Vikings exult after first tournament championship in the field hockey program's recent history. |
Midfielder Ashley Brazell and goalie Claire Telford helped lead La Jolla to a 3-0 win over Mission Hills and the championship of the Valley Center Tournament.
Brazell, playing tight ball control, made strong decisions and helped her teammates in negotiating the defense presented by Mission Hills, and prior to that in the semifinals and quarterfinals Cathedral and host Valley Center, respectively.
Telford, a talented junior taking over Viking goal-tending duties this season, continued her strong play with what Coach Amanda Combs Warford called some "amazing saves", in addition to helping lead the La Jolla defense under extremely hot weather conditions in the rural North County town.
On Sat., Sept. 7, the Vikings, seeded third in the championship bracket entering the second day of the tourney, vanquished in short order the Jaguars, 3-0, then the Dons, 1-0. in a squeaker, and finally Mission Hills.
A week prior, on the first Saturday of the tournament, Aug. 31, La Jolla dropped its first game, 1-0, to Huntington Beach, then went on a run, beating Great Oaks 1-0, tying Rancho Bernardo 0-0l, before downing Escondido 3-0 and Eastlake 2-0 to earn its way into the final day of competition.
"This kick-started our season," enthused Warford over the tournament win. "We were able to quickly find things we need to work on and improve on them."
Athletic Director Paula Conway, the Vikings' former field hockey coach, said the tourney title was a major milestone. "I don't think we've ever won a tournament," she said when asked about the program's history. "We've always only played in the Serra tournament when I was coaching, and we never won that."
Commented Warford further, "We were able to work on various game tactics, since we played so many games. Most teams have only played about five games this far into the season and we've played 11, so it gives us a huge head start on team chemistry."
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