LJ FH: Needed - a recorder

Left forward Paxton Stolper (7),
known by her teammates
to be loquacious.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"You're going to need a recorder. Once you get her talking, it's going to be a lot," smiled Coach Amanda Combs Warford about her forward, Paxton Stolper, at a reporter asking who on the La Jolla field hockey team is a "yakker" and willing to be interviewed.

The Viking senior was sporting bright purple athletic tape on the backs of her legs. "KT tape. It's my first time using it," said Stolper, part of the Vikings' successful attack alongside Haley Mossmer, in the middle, and Jordan Wolf, on the opposite (right) side. The trio are all seniors.

"I have a calf problem. We're going to try this out and see if it helps."

Stolper and her teammates were about to warm up on the upper field, west of the stadium, at Serra High School. The occasion was the first of two days of the Serra Tournament, probably the major field hockey tourney in the area, Sat., Sept. 14.

Warford's attack, showing spurts of strength with a renewed commitment to improving stick skills, was able to edge La Costa Canyon, its opening opponent, 1-0.

The following games resulted in a 2-0 win over Westview, with the 90-degree temperature at 11:30 most likely increasing for the 1 p.m. game, and 1-1 versus Canyon Crest in a game starting at 3 p.m.

The Vikings aren't blowing people out, but they are beating them consistently.

Comparing offensive production, on Maxpreps.com Serra had 37 goals, Bishop's 32, and Scripps Ranch 31, while La Jolla had 11, Cathedral 17. Patrick Henry was still in single digits with nine goals scored.

The week before, Ashley Brazell, at midfield, was the Player of the Match as La Jolla hung on until overtime and toppled Canyon Crest, 1-0. That was a milestone even the restrained Warford remarked on.

"She has really strong skills and awareness of the field and opponents," said Warford after the match. "She rarely ever turns the ball over and yesterday she made the correct decision on the field every single time.

"She skilled her way through so many CCA players, and it contributed to a lot of our attack."