CIF-San Diego Section (Preseason #1: La Costa Canyon)

CIF-SAN DIEGO SECTION GIRLS

The Team to Beat: La Costa Canyon

The two-time defending CIF-San Diego Section champion Mavericks return eight starters and ride into the 2009 season on a 37-game winning streak. La Costa Canyon went 23-0 after winning its final 14 games in 2007. La Costa Canyon hasn’t lost since March 30, 2007.

This year’s team appears to be formidable as well and will be led by Stanford-bound senior middie Jackie Candelaria, who has been a fixture on the varsity since her freshman season. Since Candelaria joined the Mavericks’ varsity team, La Costa Canyon has compiled a 62-3 record.

Contenders: Coronado, Torrey Pines, Poway, La Jolla

UC Berkeley-bound senior middie Melissa Humphrey will lead a Coronado team that fell one goal short in last season’s CIF championship game. The Islanders bring back seven starters in all. Torrey Pines returns eight starters, including lethal-scoring senior middie Becky Trees.

This could be a transition year for Poway, which graduated several NCAA Division I players and has a new head coach this season. La Jolla should be competitive in the City Conference behind Columbia-bound senior middie-attack MacKenzie Gloven.

Sleeper: Scripps Ranch

A couple years ago, Scripps Ranch could hardly win a game. This year, it has a star player who will be moving on to an NCAA Division I program in the fall and should be extremely competitive. UC Berkeley-bound senior attack Gina Holslag doesn’t get much press, but last season she quietly compiled 110 points on 83 goals and 27 assists to become one of the best finishers in San Diego County.

NCAA Division I Recruits: Jackie Candelaria, MF, La Costa Canyon (Stanford); Taylor Fiehler, MF, Valley Center (Fresno State); MacKenzie Gloven, MF-Att., La Jolla (Columbia); Gina Holslag, Att., Scripps Ranch (UC Berkeley); Charlotte Huguenor, Att.-MF, Santa Fe Christian (St. Mary's); Melissa Humphrey, MF, Coronado (UC Berkeley); Kacie Lewis, MF, Granite Hills (Connecticut); Kelly McCarthy, G, Cathedral Catholic (UC Berkeley); Alanna Parker, MF, Spring Valley Monte Vista (Davidson).

Fiehler is another player who flies under the media radar because of where she plays. Fresno State’s first pick-up from San Diego County has been Valley Center’s team MVP three straight seasons. She also holds a coaching license.

Other Top Players: Roxy Alei, Def., La Costa Canyon; Kendra Carlisle, Att., Westview; Kylee Gibson, Att., La Costa Canyon; Alexa Golden, MF, Torrey Pines; Michaela Guerrera, Att., Coronado; Ashley Inman, Att., Poway; Kendra Keenan, MF, La Costa Canyon; Kirsten Krock, Def., Coronado; Margaret Nettleton, MF, La Jolla; Coco O’Brien, Att., Coronado; Samantha Slattery, G, Carlsbad; Amy Soenksen, Def., La Costa Canyon (Hamilton); Kristen Sondag, Def., La Costa Canyon; Becky Trees, MF, Torrey Pines; Katie Trees, MF, Torrey Pines; Taylor Udell, G, Coronado; Carly Voris, MF, Mt. Carmel; Ann Morgan Yeatman, MF, Rancho Bernardo.

Preseason Top 10: 1. La Costa Canyon, 2. Coronado, 3. Torrey Pines, 4. Poway, 5. La Jolla, 6. Rancho Bernardo, 7. Westview, 8. Cathedral Catholic 9. San Dieguito Academy, 10. Bishop’s

Notes: Since 2006, La Costa Canyon has compiled a record of 81-5 and won three CIF-San Diego Section championships….CIF-San Diego Section finalist Coronado went 23-2 last season, losing both times to La Costa Canyon by a combined three goals….Former University of Albany attack Sarah Spillett has taken over for Kristy Gallagher at Poway….Gallagher, who played at Richmond and was a college teammate of La Costa Canyon head coach Katie Dolan, said she is taking a year off from coaching to finish her Master’s Degree….Jenn Tapscott has taken over for Dana Cappello as head coach at La Jolla. Tapscott played NCAA Division I lacrosse at Vanderbilt, where she was a captain as a senior….Adriana Lopez has taken over for Heidi Kooyman as head coach at Fallbrook….Kristine Johnson has taken over for Jill Albee as head coach at Francis Parker….Former Bonita Vista head coach Ralph Carrier is now in charge at Spring Valley Monte Vista….La Costa Canyon senior middie Jackie Candelaria and Coronado senior middie Melissa Humphrey both earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American, honorable-mention honors last season as juniors….Candelaria will be just the fifth Californian to play NCAA Division I lacrosse for Stanford.