The Coronado High School girls’ lacrosse team anticipates a promising season as this year’s familiar faces return to maintain last year’s reputation.
Last year, the team ranked No. 4 following a season finish in the Open Division CIF San Diego Section 2023 Girls’ Lacrosse Championships.
Now ranked No. 2 in the 2024 CA San Diego Girls Rankings, the Division 1 team is focused on repeating victories.
Head coach Caroline Carlson said the team finds itself stepping away from their developmental years. Now expanding off of that, they are also cultivating a mindset focused on “the team as one.”
“It’s exciting,” said Carlson about the team’s progress and current standing.
Last year’s youngest players are returning this year as sophomores, and they are expanding the group’s top players to pave a trajectory to success.
“The team is led by the talented sophomore class that is coming off of a great first freshman season… able to work hand-in-hand with upperclassmen and provide a great example with freshmen coming in,” Carlson said.
This spring, the Islander girls are looking to compete in the Open Division and resurface as champions.
Starting strong
The team returns to reclaim a championship title that slipped through their fingers in the Open Division championships last May with many of last season’s team strengths: teamwork, strong defense, top goal scorers and the core talent of last year’s freshmen.
The beginning of March kicked off the girls’ lacrosse season with a home game against Del Norte High School—Coronado earned double digits against the Nighthawks with a 22-9 final score.
The following week, the Islanders took on St. John’s School from Texas and once more dominated the field at 20-7.
On March 12, the CHS girls triumphed for a third time with a 16-8 away game against San Marcos High School.
Later that week, the Islanders had two more significant wins resulting in a 5-0 record.
CHS seniors Julia Mineo, Lauren Hundley, junior Charley Peterson and sophomore Maria Anaya are the team captains who, along with last year’s standout freshmen, play well and lead by example, Carlson said.
And some of these local student athletes are considered top players to watch by San Diego Union Tribune including Sydney Dunn, Grace Elardo and Brooklyn Parma, as well as Anaya and Mineo— majority of whom have won other recognitions in the sport beyond the school’s team.
Working to the top
While Coronado begins their season in Division 1, Carlson said they can work their way to Open Division—the top division—where the Islanders have been for the past few years.
According to Carlson, the team secured a Division 1 championship title in 2022.
During a semifinal game last year, Torrey Pines defeated Coronado by a close margin leaving them 1-point behind in a 15-14 final score.
Scheduled to play against Torrey Pines High School, currently ranked No. 1, in April, Carlson said that matchup will be one of their biggest competitions this season.
As the Islanders prepare to encounter the Falcons on April 11, Carlson said she is confident in her team, especially with Coronado also looking to play against teams from Northern California and others ranked at the top nationally.
“It’s always great to get more competition from elsewhere in the country,” Carlson said, explaining that out-of-state teams come to San Diego for spring break and ask to play, including March 15th’s tough opponent, New Trier High School from Winnetka, Illinois.
Beyond managing roles in club lacrosse and directing K-8th programming, where she coaches young players, Carlson is hopeful about continuing to help her high school team advance through to Open Division.
The CHS and NCAA Fresno State alum said she and the entire coaching team are looking to help the girls expand their knowledge across daily practices.
“We have a great coaching staff at Coronado,” Carlson added.
And while Coronado has a smaller program, Caroline said she believes the Islanders will prevail through the season with so many talented players on the team.
