La Costa Canyon Mavericks

March 19th, 2011
No. 3 La Costa Canyon 7, No. 25 Rancho Bernardo 6 (OT)

By Nathan Max
WSL Executive Editor

SAN DIEGO — Senior attackman Sean Hayden scored the game-winning goal with 1:13 remaining in overtime to give No. 3 La Costa Canyon a thrilling, come-from-behind, 7-6 victory over No. 25 Rancho Bernardo in a CIF-San Diego Section game before a raucous crowd at Rancho Bernardo on Friday night.

Hayden, who finished with a game-high three points on two goals and one assist, fired home a low shot from four yards on the right side to cap a rally from a two-goal, fourth-quarter deficit and give the Mavericks (3-0) their 26th straight victory. La Costa Canyon has not lost since the 2009 San Diego Section championship game and is 39-1 in its last 40 games.

But the Mavericks just barely escaped Friday.

“We know we can turn it on,” Hayden said. “Our senior captains can pick us up, and they did just that. We’ve been there before.”

Junior attackman Brendan Gaughn and senior middie Michael Gennuso each scored twice, senior middie Nick Compogiannis had a goal and junior middie Tom Riis dished an assist to round out the offense for La Costa Canyon.

Defensively, senior goalie Eric Sanschagrin saved 10 shots and almost single-handedly kept the Mavericks in the game in the first half, when they were completely outplayed.

In defeat, senior middie Tyler Ekeroth, junior attackman Jack Yeatman and junior attackman Shay Dooley all scored twice for Rancho Bernardo (1-1), which showed in defeat that it is a serious contender in the San Diego Section this season.

Senior attackman Blake Heidrich and senior middie Pat Killea each had an assist for the Broncos.

Defensively, senior goalie Zach Weaver finished with nine saves.

Rancho Bernardo outshot La Costa Canyon, 29-22, including a 17-9 advantage in the first half. The Broncos led for large portions of the game, which had few fast-break opportunities and was mostly played out of settled offensive sets.

Dooley’s first of the night put Rancho Bernardo ahead 4-2 with 4:43 to play in the first half. Yeatman, playing in front of his older brother and former Rancho Bernardo, Notre Dame and Maryland standout Will Yeatman, put the Broncos up 5-3 with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.

But La Costa Canyon rallied in the fourth. Gaughn, Compogiannis and Hayden scored in succession to put the Mavericks up, 6-5, with 3:23 to play in regulation. Dooley answered with 1:34 remaining to force overtime.

In the extra period, both teams failed to score on their first possession before Hayden ended it.

“Obviously, we wanted to win,” Rancho Bernardo head coach Travis Begay said. “It hurts to lose, but my guys never quit. From the first quarter to the fourth quarter, we had a chance to win this game. And we could have done it.

“I’m proud of the kids, the way they fought the entire game. It was a heavyweight fight, and they got the last punch.”

No. 3 La Costa Canyon (3-0) 2 0 1 3 1 — 7
No. 25 Rancho Bernardo (1-1) 2 2 1 1 0 — 6
Goals: LCC: Sean Hayden 2, Brendan Gaughn 2, Michael Gennuso 2, Nick Compogiannis. RB: Tyler Ekeroth 2, Jack Yeatman 2, Shay Dooley 2.
Assists: LCC: Tom Riis, Hayden. RB: Blake Heidrich, Pat Killea.
Saves: LCC: Eric Sanschagrin 10. RB: Zach Weaver 9.
Shots: LCC: 22. RB: 29
Face-Offs Won: LCC 8. RB: 8
Extra-Man Opportunities: LCC 0-1. RB: 1-2.
Lacrosse Season:
2011