After back-to-back-to -back losses to La Jolla on Sept. 29, Bishop’s on Oct. 1, and most recently to Scripps Ranch on Oct. 6, Mission Bay field hockey looks to recapture the level of play that helped it go undefeated in league last season, starting in this upcoming match against Canyon Hills High on Thursday, Oct. 8.
“It’s been a rollercoaster with some good wins and some tough losses,” said head coach Kris Auer. following the team’s loss to Bishops. “We won Eastern League the last couple of years, but now we are in the Western League, which is a really big jump up from what we have been in the past.”
The Bucs started the season off strong with a 7-0 win over Otay Ranch on Aug. 18 but then suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to University City on Aug. 27.
Mission Bay bounced back with two straight wins over Bonita Vista on Aug. 31 by a score of 4-1 and followed that up with a dramatic 2-1 victory versus Point Loma on Sept. 2; however, then went on to suffer three consecutive losses to La Jolla by a score of 2-0, Clairemont 1-0 and a 2-1 overtime defeat to Olympian.
“These Western League teams are tough,” Auer added. “We don’t do too well against them, but we are accepting the challenge and accepting our fate. Having been a successful program, it is what it is.”
The Bucs managed to recover from those three close losses by winning their next two games over La Jolla Country Day 5-0 on Sept. 23 and then 1-0 versus Mira Mesa the following day before dropping the following three against La Jolla, Bishop’s and Scripps Ranch by 3-0, 13-0 and 5-0 scores, respectively.
“You learn, and you are picking up things. You are learning what doesn’t work the hard way,” said Auer.
Among the standout players for Mission Bay have been goalkeeper Sorelle Muto and teammates Cali Christ, Madeline Stiles and Claire Dunn.
The Bucs have five more games after the upcoming match against Canyon Hills, followed by a home meeting with Cathedral Catholic on Oct. 13. Mission Bay will then host Bishop’s on Oct. 20 before traveling to Scripps Ranch on Oct. 22, closing out the regular season at home on Oct. 27 versus Canyon Hills and then on the road to face Cathedral Catholic on Oct. 29.
