La Costa Canyon Mavericks

May 23, 2012 11:10 pm By TERRY MONAHAN tmonahan@nctimes.com

LA COSTA -- After a one-year absence, La Costa Canyon High will once again play for a CIF San Diego Section boys lacrosse championship.

But what an agonizing year it has been for the Mavericks, who were eliminated by their bitter rival, Torrey Pines, in last year’s semifinal round and watched helplessly as the Falcons claimed the title.

After living with that the last 12 months, the Mavericks took the final step to return to the championship game Wednesday. They used a seven-goal outburst in the third quarter to dispatch visiting Westview 13-3 in the Division I section semifinals to secure a berth in the final for the ninth time in 10 seasons.

Naturally, top-seeded La Costa Canyon (21-1) will face Torrey Pines in the championship game Saturday at Westview. The Falcons defeated Rancho Bernardo 9-7 in the other semifinal.

“The kids have talked all season about missing last year’s finals and how it was Torrey that did that to them,‘’ said La Costa Canyon coach Jesse Foss, whose team is seeking its fifth section title in school history. "I wouldn’t want it to be any other way than La Costa Canyon against Torrey in the finals.’’

The Mavericks defeated the Falcons in both regular-season meetings between the teams.

“This is the trilogy,‘’ said La Costa Canyon sophomore Cameron Ziegler, who scored four goals and had two assists against Westview (17-5). "We want Torrey, and I’m sure they want us.’’

Ziegler tallied three of his goals during a 61-second span early in the third quarter to give the Mavericks a comfortable, 8-2 advantage in what had been a close game. Ziegler’s first goal of the game, in the second quarter, gave La Costa Canyon a 3-1 lead, and the Mavericks clung to a 5-2 advantage at halftime.

“To that point, we hung tough,’’ Westview coach Rob Bauer said. "They made adjustments, and the game slipped away.

“They are very good. We just couldn’t stop anything.’’

Westview didn’t score in the second half until 6 minutes, 23 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. By that time, the outcome was all but decided.

“Everything clicked in the third quarter,’’ Ziegler said. "It seemed like we saw the field better. It was there the whole game, but it took us the first half to figure it out, which is what we usually do.

“Anyone could have scored those three goals in the third. I just happened to be in the right place.

“Those goals opened the floodgates.’’

Keen added three goals and an assist for the Mavericks, while teammate Zane O’Brien contributed two goals and an assist. Brendan Gaughan scored one goal with five assists.