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ORANGE — Temecula Valley girls lacrosse coach Chris Hamill believed his team just needed a chance.
The Golden Bears come from the Southwestern League, which features a trio of girls lacrosse powerhouses in Murrieta Mesa, Chaparral and Vista Murrieta. Temecula Valley placed fourth in the league this season, but unlike past years, the Bears’ record was good enough to earn a spot in the CIF Southern Section’s playoffs.
“We always felt like something special could happen if we could just find a way into the playoffs, said Hamill, who has been coaching teams at Temecula Valley for three decades. “This year, we finally had a .500 record and got that at-large spot. I told the girls, ‘You’re about to create memories that you’re never going to forget.’”
And that they did. Temecula Valley completed a dominant run and became the first Inland girls lacrosse team to capture a section championship after Saturday’s 11-5 victory over Roosevelt in the Division 3 title match at El Modena High’s Fred Kelly Stadium. The Bears won four of their five playoff matches by at least six goals.
Senior Kelsey Lurkins had a match-high four goals, and junior Aubrey Chang added three more for the Bears.
“It’s so exciting and almost doesn’t feel real,” said Lurkins, who is 1 of 6 seniors on the roster. “We worked so hard for this, out there every day and taking no breaks. I think I started crying during the final seconds today.”
Temecula Valley (18-6) took command early and had a 5-0 lead in the opening minutes of the second period.
Chang got the Bears on the scoreboard 2 1/2 minutes into the match, and then won six straight draws to help Temecula Valley dominate possession early. Kerrigan Lurkins scored the next two goals, and Kelsey Lurkins got her first of the match in the final minute of the first quarter. And Kaylee Cadez made it a 5-0 advantage.
“Aubrey was outstanding for us on the draws,” Hamill said. “We had the opportunities to build up a big lead.”
Roosevelt (16-10-1) managed only one shot on goal during the opening period. But momentum changed in the second quarter, when Maelynn Saucedo won six draws in a row. The Mustangs capitalized and scored four goals in a span of four minutes to jump back in the match. Analiese Saucedo, Saucedo, Violet Olague and Zion Santos pocketed goals that helped Roosevelt trim the deficit to 5-4 with 5:39 remaining in the half.
“I think there were some nerves early for us,” Roosevelt coach Todd Rigby said. “It’s tough to overcome a start like we had, but they battled and got back into it. Unfortunately, we made mistakes that were costly.”
The biggest blow for the Mustangs came when Saucedo picked up a second yellow card late in the first half.
Kelsey Lurkins and Chang each scored a goal to help Temecula Valley take a 7-4 to the locker room at half.
Casillas scored on a slick backhand in the third period, but Temecula Valley quickly answered with goals by Kelsey Lurkins and Rachel Andrews. Roosevelt had chances to bounce back, but Temecula Valley goalie Janelle Monaghan registered four of her nine saves in the third period. She did not allow a goal in the fourth.
Monaghan is a first-year lacrosse player. It took more than a year for Hamill to convince Monaghan to play.
“Every single day for a year,” Monaghan recalled. “I appreciate that he wanted me. It’s been totally worth it.”
Kelsey Lurkins scored her fourth with 3:14 left in the match, and assisted Chang’s goal with 34 seconds left.
“I think our bonds on and off the field have been very important,” Lurkins said about the key to this season. “You can’t play this sport on your own. You need your teammates. We all came together to make it happen.”
Like Temecula Valley, Roosevelt took its biggest leap forward by reaching the section championship match.
“I think a season like this really instilled a lot pride,” Rigby said. “They feel very proud of what they’ve done.”
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Courtesy : https://www.pressenterprise.com/2024/05/11/temecula-valley-girls-lacrosse-team-beats-roosevelt-to-win-division-3-section-title/