Lacrosse: Shutout follows victories in 2 league games
The Bulldogs followed league victories against Fallbrook and Valley Center with a non-league shutout win at Our Lady of Peace.
The three consecutive victories evened Ramona’s overall season record at 8-8.
“I think they’re starting to finally get into a rhythm,” said assistant coach Al Cavell.
The Bulldogs followed a 14-4 home loss April 8 against Otay Ranch with a 7-3 triumph April 11 at home against Santana. The win against the Sultans broke a two-game losing streak.
“It was nice to come up with a win on that one,” Cavell said. “It was kind of a turning point in the season.”
Megan Vandervort and Sam Reckling each scored three goals against Santana while the other successful Ramona shot provided Tiffany Meredith with her first varsity goal.
On April 13 Ramona hosted Granite Hills. The 8-5 Eagles victory included a 5-2 halftime lead for Granite Hills before each team scored three times in the second half. When the game was played Granite Hills was ranked first among Division II teams in the CIF San Diego Section.
“It’s nice to play a team like that that will challenge you,” Cavell said. “Looking forward to hopefully seeing them in the playoffs.”
Rancho Bernardo is in Division I for playoff purposes, and Ramona’s April 14 home game against the Broncos was an 8-6 defeat.
The league opener against Fallbrook was originally scheduled to be played on the Warriors’ field, but a Fallbrook boys home game was scheduled at the same time and relocating the venue to Ramona was more feasible than adjusting officiating schedules. Ramona held a 5-2 halftime lead and won by an 8-4 margin.
“It was just kind of a good way to open league,” Cavell said.
Betsy Dean had three goals and two assists against Fallbrook. Vandervort added two goals and one assist. Sydney Elliott provided two goals, Caitlyn Critts placed one ball into the net, and Nicole Elizarrares had an assist. Ramona goalkeeper Gina Gruneisen made three saves.
Gruneisen recorded seven saves in Ramona’s 12-1 victory April 20 at Valley Center. Seven different Bulldogs had at least one goal.
“We were pretty excited about that,” Cavell said.
Vandervort and Elliott had three goals apiece with Elliott adding one assist. Sierra Fields contributed two goals and three assists. Critts, Dean, Reckling and Meredith each had one goal with Meredith also providing an assist.
The final score of the April 22 game at Our Lady of Peace was 15-0. Nina Thorson was Ramona’s goalie and had seven saves.
“That was pretty exciting for her to get her first shutout,” Cavell said.
Thorson was aided by starting defenders Mackenzie Griffin, Shelby Krops and Tori Perfect. Elliott led Ramona’s offense with four goals while Critts had three goals and an assist. Dean, Meredith and Vandervort each scored twice. Elizarrares and Caitlin Blanck had a goal apiece. Zoe Bennet had an assist.
The Bulldogs have a league home game against Sage Creek Thursday and travel to Grossmont for Friday’s non-league match.