Girls Lacrosse: RB Tops Poway for First League Title

The rivalry continues, and with it came some blood and a sprained ankle.

The Rancho Bernardo girls lacrosse team defeated Poway 13-7 on Wednesday to win the Palomar League title for the first time in school history. The Broncos were a perfect 14-0 in league and are 19-1 overall.

The game started off very physical, resulting in a Bronco bloody lip and finger and a Titan sprained ankle.

“It was a physical game. We ended up getting two yellow cards and they had at least one, but I think the rivalry fired both teams up,” said Poway senior captain Mackenzie Murray, recipient of the sprained ankle.

The Broncos used their physicality and came out of the gates firing, scoring eight goals in the first half, capitalizing on all of the Titans' missed opportunities on offense.

“We could have played better; we had a lot of dropped passes,” Murray said. “We just had compounding mistakes that didn’t really help us.”

The Broncos led 8-4 at intermission and gradually pulled away in the second half before the Titans (13-7, 21-2) closed the gap to six with two quick goals in the closing minutes of the game. Hannah Siegar had 12 saves for the Broncos.

With the win Rancho Bernartdo secured a spot in the playoffs, while the Titans are expected to receive a bid as well.

“We had a good season," said Murray. "The only team we lost to (in league) was RB. We played very well and had a great comeback against Westview.”

Titans coach Sarah Spillet, clearly frustrated, couldn’t verbalize a positive from the game. But she certainly knew what the Titans need to do to prepare for the playoffs.

“Playing a full and complete game, a full 50 minutes, and playing the best lacrosse we are capable of playing every time we take the field,” was the short list of items she felt needed improvement before the playoffs.

With any game that is less than stellar, sometimes you just have to forget about it.

“We have to not look back at this game and just take the good things from it," said Spillet. "We can't dwell on the loss. We have to focus on playing our game and the basics. Playoffs is going to be a completely new ballgame and new season.”

 And going forward Spillet’s message is simple: “Win.”

Palomar League 

Rancho Bernardo 13, Poway 7

Poway ---------------------  4       3     -     7

Rancho Bernardo -----     8       5     -   13

Poway -- Goals: Vicky Porter 1, Taylor Carter 1, Danielle Budde 3, Robin Taylor 1, Claire Amabile 1. Assists: Taylor Carter 1, Robin Taylor 1. Saves: Kellie Roddy 9.

Rancho Bernardo -- Goals: Allison Proehl 5, Blaiz Major 2, Sadie Ovchinnikova 2, Rachel Bokmeyer 1, Kathy Rudkin 1, Megan Cury 1, Kyla Roessler 1. Assists: Allison Proehl 2, Rachel Bokmeyer 3, Kathy Rudkin 1. Saves: Hannah Sieger 12.

Records: Poway 13-7, 12-2, Rancho Bernardo 19-1, 14-0.