PREP FIELD HOCKEY: Fallbrook hands LCC frustrating loss

Warriors fend off LCC's attacks, win on Russell's goal

By JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Tuesday, October 14, 2008 11:48 PM PDT ∞

La Costa Canyon's Danielle Pawling, right, moves the ball as Fallbrook's Patty Maultsby reaches in during Fallbrook's 1-0 victory at La Costa Canyon on Tuesday afternoon. Photo Hayne Palmour IV

LA COSTA ---- Her team was playing tentatively, and her goalie was being attacked from all sides.

So Fallbrook High field hockey coach Kathy Waite called a first-half timeout and implored her team to hustle.

"We were walking," Waite said."We weren't looking or cutting.

"I asked the girls to be the first to the ball, and they responded."

No. 6 ranked La Costa Canyon continued to dominate the action, but Fallbrook's Christine Russell scored the game's only goal, getting an assist from Lydia Brambilia with 14 minutes, 17 seconds to play to help the No. 7 Warriors escape with a hard-fought 1-0 Avocado League victory on Tuesday afternoon.

"This is really frustrating," La Costa Canyon coach Kim Elmore said. "We had so many chances. We had great shots, but didn't finish."

The Mavericks (6-5-1, 1-1) produced 13 shots on goal, including nine in the first half.

Fallbrook goalie Jahna Jordan, a sophomore, had 12 saves for Fallbrook, including several at point-blank range.


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La Costa Canyon had five straight penalty corners midway through the first half. Danielle Pawling launched a shot that skittered across the goal mouth, and Kristen Sondag's shot near the end of the half was stopped by Jordan.

LCC even had a rare penalty shot, but Sondag's shot hit the top of the goal.

"She makes that shot nine times out of 10," Elmore said.

Fallbrook weathered a storm of shots in the last 90 seconds to hold on for the win.

"Honestly, we played well," Elmore said. "Even after the goal, we were attacking.

"Things just didn't go our way."

The Warriors (8-6-1), who played LCC to a 0-0 tie in the Serra Tournament, got great defensive play from Patty Maultsby, Lizzy Eskue and Kyle Little.

"We weren't playing up to our level early in the game," said Maultsby, Fallbrook's sweeper. "We had to get it going, and we did step it up. I'm the last line of defense, and it's my job to get the ball and dribble it out. This is a big win, an important win because our league is so tough. LCC, Torrey Pines (ranked No. 2) and San Pasqual (ranked No. 4) are all good.

"So any win is a big one."

Caitlin Chamberlain and Sarah Chamberlain played well defensively for La Costa Canyon. And Annie Lovell played a great overall game for the Mavericks.

"Our league is a killer," Waite said. "So to steal as win on the road is big, really big."

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.