LA COSTA - Maddie Flavin initially misread the situation.

She knew the La Costa Canyon High girls lacrosse team was deadlocked with rival Poway, but the senior thought her Mavericks had a few minutes to take the lead before play resumed on a free pass from behind the Titans' goal. She didn't anticipate the ball at first, thinking it would go to attacker Tara Arolla.

Then reality set in.

Flavin was wide open near goal with the sudden realization that this might be the last play in regulation.

Before Flavin had time to contemplate the context, the whistle started play and a pass went her way. Instinct took over as she made a little juke and fired a shot that gave the No. 2-ranked Mavericks a 9-8 North County Conference win over No. 1 Poway on Tuesday evening at La Costa Canyon High.

"I'm kind of glad I didn't have time to think about the situation," Flavin said. "I was able to focus on the moment and thankfully make a good shot."

Flavin did think about one thing as play resumed.

"I was all alone," Flavin said. "There wasn't a defender that could reach me in time, so I figured the goalie was going to come out and apply some pressure."

Flavin guessed right, which allowed her to get around the goalie and fire a low shot that found net with 5 seconds remaining.

Flavin's goal secured an encouraging win over the Titans, who defeated LCC in last year's CIF San Diego Section finals and again five weeks ago.

"This win was huge for us," Flavin said. "We'd been waiting for this match since they beat us last time."

Poway (16-2, 9-1) won that match by six goals, but LCC (11-2, 7-1) came out firing in the rematch with three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes.

The Titans responded with vigor. They pushed ahead 5-4 at halftime behind playmaker Brandi Jones, who finished with two goals and three assists.

La Costa Canyon never let Poway take momentum, never falling more than a goal behind. That's true in large part because of goalie Haleh Nourani, who had 10 saves.

Stacy Patch and Jackie Candelaria kept the offense running and gave Flavin a chance to win it at the end.

The final whistle sent La Costa Canyon into hysteria. It produced the opposite reaction from Poway, which isn't accustomed to losing.

"This was the first time we truly got outplayed," Poway coach Kristy Gallagher said. "We're not a team that makes excuses. We got beat today and the girls don't like to lose. This will stick with them and make them play even better in the long run."

- Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com. Comment at nctvarsity.com.

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