Varsity wins playoff opener 15-10 over Newport Harbor

Trabuco Hills Girls Lacrosse Varsity on Tuesday won a first-round Orange County playoff game for the sixth consecutive year, defeating Newport Harbor, 15-10, at El Toro High School.

The Mustangs, the No. 5 seed, got off to a quick start, gaining an 8-4 lead over the No. 12 seed Sailors. NewportHarbor (7-11) closed the gap to 8-6 at the break.

Trabuco Hills (12-6) couldn’t easily shake off Newport Harbor, who took the Mustangs to triple overtime before losing earlier in the season. The Mustangs led by only 11-9 midway through the second half before a three-goal barrage essentially put the game away.

The two-time South Coast League champion Mustangs were led by Hennessy Evans’ nine goals and five goals and an assist from Juliet Mooney. Morgan Yee had a goal and Ieneke Jimenez had four assists. Goalie Chiara Reniero made nine saves.

Trabuco Hills’ 12th straight playoff appearance — and the program’s only 12 years old — continues Thursday in a 7 p.m. quarterfinal match at Santa Margarita, who beat Los Alamitos 9-8 in their opening round playoff game. In the regular season, Santa Margarita (13-4) beat Trabuco Hills, 15-12.

The post-season win also put Trabuco Hills in rare company: The Mustang’s winning their first-round US Lacrosse Southern Section playoff game in each of the last six years is a feat equaled by just two other Orange County programs in the same timeframe: Mater Dei and Foothill!