Field hockey goes for fourth title
By Hector Trujillo
The three-time defending CIF San Diego Section Open Division field hockey champion Scripps Ranch High School Falcons entered the 2022 regular season in hopes of defending its title, this time under new head coach Elizabeth Jacobs.
Jacobs previously served as an assistant coach to Jane Morrill, who was among the coaches named CIF State Model Coach of the Year in March of this year.
“We don’t plan on missing a beat,” Jacobs said. “We are continuing our championship tradition and we’re trying to go for the first ‘fourpeat.’”
Scripps Ranch finished 19-2-1 overall in 2021 and won its title thanks to a goal by senior Kelsey McGrattan with 41 seconds left on the clock for the dramatic 1-0 victory over Torrey Pines High School.
Although McGrattan has since graduated, the roster is still full of talented players including senior team captains Sofia Carniglia, Cassidy Lacey, Kaelynn Del Monte and her twin sister Kylee Del Monte. Kylee is committed to play field hockey at Brown University.
The team’s toughest competition this season are, not surprisingly, Torrey Pines High School and league rival Canyon Hills High School.
The tradition of winning is something that is at the forefront of not just the players but also coach Jacobs who knows what it feels like.
“I actually went to Scripps Ranch High School also, and I played for Jane (Morrill) who retired last year,” Jacobs said. “I’m Scripps Ranch born and raised.”
After graduating in 2005, Jacobs moved on to play for the University of Miami (Ohio) before returning home and joining the coaching staff at SRHS.
SRHS defeated Vista High School 8-0 on Sept. 1. The team also defeated La Costa Canyon High School 1-0 on Sept. 7. SRHS continues with road games against The Bishop’s School on Sept. 20, Canyon Crest Academy on Sept. 22, Rancho Bueno Vista High School on Sept. 26, Canyon Hills High School on Sept. 28 and finishing against Cathedral Catholic High School on Sept. 30.
That road schedule will be followed by a home game on Oct. 3 against Patrick Henry High School.
The second half of the season will include a four-game homestand in mid-October versus La Jolla High School, Canyon Hills High School, Cathedral Catholic High School and The Bishop’s School. SRHS will close out the regular season with two league road matches: one against Patrick Henry High School on Oct. 26 and one against La Jolla High School on Oct. 28.
