Varsity season ends with 9-8 playoff loss to Newport

The 2017 season for Trabuco Hills Girls Lacrosse ended Thursday night with a nail-biting 9-8 loss to Newport Harbor at Trabuco Stadium.

Senior goalie Ashley Bell

The No. 3 seeded Mustangs were strong early in the US Lacrosse Orange County quarterfinals vs. the No. 6 seeded Sailors. Trabuco opened up a 6-3 halftime lead that included Hennessy Evans’ 40-plus-yard score with a 1 second left before the break.

Trabuco’s lead grew to 8-4 after half, but the Sailors fought their way back with five consecutive goals. The Mustangs had several opportunities to tie the match but none were successful.

Evans scored five goals with Juliet Mooney, Sherry Hsu and Avery Friesen each adding one score.

Mustang senior goalie Ashley Bell — playing the last game of her Mustang career — had eight saves. Fans thinking about 2018 should note: She was the varsity lone senior this season!

“Our stated goals were to be league champs — check — and advance past the quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the first time in program history — one goal short,” says Trabuco Head Coach Scott Leong. “Can’t get any closer.”

To recap Varsity 2017:

• Third league championship in seven season: 2011, 2014, 2017.
• 11 playoff appearances in 11 years of varsity play.
• 3rd seed in playoffs. Highest ever!
• Fifth consecutive year with first-round playoff win. Only Mater Dei and Foothill can say the same thing!
• 14 wins. Only teams of 2016 and 2014 won more!
• 6-2 at home. That makes the Mustangs 34-6 over five years at Trabuco Stadium! Total margin of those six losses? Just NINE goals!