Under the lights of Niedermeyer Field at Coronado High School, the girls’ lacrosse team took down the La Jolla Vikings 11-9, in the first round of the CIF San Diego Section Lacrosse Championship on May 11.
Entering the match, the Islanders sat at the fourth seed, and squeaked out a gritty win against the fifth-seeded Vikings.
Their first win of the tournament against league rivals did not come easy.
Vikings start hot
It was the Vikings who got out to a hot start—immediately putting Coronado on their heels.
Coronado secured a quick goal to get things going, but La Jolla had everything working early on.
Multiple goals from La Jolla senior Kate Alexander put the Vikings up by three in the first minutes of the second half.
Dunn’s electric goal
The Islanders found life in the second half however, as they were able to halt the La Jolla offense.
Not only was the defense stout during their second half rampage, but an impressive offensive run allowed Coronado to regain the lead.
Islander freshman Sydney Dunn, who scored multiple times on the night, weaved through the Viking defense to score the game-tying goal.
Dunn’s electric goal highlighted Coronado’s second half run that saw them score five unanswered goals.
Promptly after winning a face off, the Islanders moved the ball down the field with ease before Julia Mineo finished the play off with a goal from close range.
Mineo’s effort was the go-ahead score for Coronado, who never let the game get away from them after that point.
Some key saves from freshman goalie Emma Terry halted the final push the Vikings desperately put together, and sealed the deal for the Islanders.
According to Coronado’s head coach Caroline Carlson, the freshmen class has been the key difference all year; the play from Dunn and Terry further proving why.
Their Thursday victory at home means the Islanders will now play Torrey Pines High School on the road, Tuesday, May 16.
Torrey Pines beat Scripps Ranch 18-7 in its first-round game.
On the other half of the bracket, La Costa Canyon and Cathedral Catholic also won first-round games, as the top four seeds all advanced.
Coronado faced the Falcons in late March, and came away with an 8-7 victory.
Torrey Pines is 10-2 since its loss to the Islanders and sit comfortably in the first seed of the CIF Championships, proving to be one of Coronado’s toughest matchups yet.
