Varsity 9, Aliso Niguel 7

The 2011 Trabuco Hills Girls Lacrosse Varsity rarely did things the easy way.

And the title-clinching win over host 10th ranked Aliso Niguel was no exception.

Let’s be kind. The Mustangs started out sluggish. Very sluggish. So sluggish, in fact, that they trailed 6-0 at half. Then it took 7 more minutes to score their first goal, by Lizzie Moore. (That’s 32 minutes of shutout play!)

And, to make matters worse, the Wolverines then scored right off the ensuing draw. So, it was 7-1 with 18:35 left.

Then the Mustangs awoke, with what’s become a pattern: a second-half rally. Sohee Ki scored on a pass from Hannah Redwine.  Jessie Papgeorge’s scored on a pass from Taylor Nunez off a free positions; Papageorge’s and Nunez each scored on free position shots. In less than 5 minutes, it became 7-5.

Moore scored from Papageorge’s; followed by a Papageorge’s goal from a sharp angle near the goal line extended. Tie game, 7 minute left.

Redwine gave the Mustangs their first lead with 5 minutes left, off a pass from Kayla Ruiz. And Nunez, with a goal off a free position, gave Trabuco Hills a cushion they could ride to their first Sea View League title.

Notes: Lauren Thews, Nunez and Papageorge’s each picked up a pair of ground balls. … Jess Tveit, Moore and Redwine each had a pair of takeaways. … Goalie Jessie Vuozzo had 4 saves. … Trabuco Hills ended regular season with 5 straight wins, best finish in program history. … Trabuco Hills has outscored opponents, 110-72, in the second half this season!

Record: 12-7; 7-1 Sea View League champions!

Next: Playoffs, to be announced over the weekend!