Foothill 12, Varsity 5 (Playoffs)

For the fourth consecutive season, the quarterfinals were the end of the road for Trabuco Hills Girls Lacrosse Varsity.

Coming off a strong first round win against Santa Margarita, the Mustangs could not find the same magic Thursday night against defending Orange County champs Foothill, losing 12-5 in the US Lacrosse Southern Section South Division quarterfinals  at Tustin High School.

The Knights, keen to avenge an 8-7 loss to Trabuco earlier in the season, came out fast, scoring the first three goals. The Mustangs countered with a pair of their own from Gabi Bitting and Kendall Derbyshire.

But Foothill kept up its relentless defense headed by USC-bound goalie Hannah Upshaw and built a 7-2 lead at half. It might not even have been that close if not for Trabuco goalie Ashley Bell’s eight first-half saves, part of a 12-save night.

Mustang scored the first goal after the break, by Juliet Mooney, but the Trabuco offense went quiet again. By the time Sierra Knudsen and Kristen Rosenberg scored a late pair of goals, Foothill had an insurmountable lead.

Trabuco finished the year 15-4, second-winningest season in program history. Thank you to seniors Derbyshire, Sydney Rauch, Ashley Murillo, Kody Shelton, Erin Beall, Shannon Smith, Hannah Moller and Jordan Cisowski for great careers and good luck in the future!