Torrey Pines Field Hockey

Field Hockey Tryouts Start August 14th

Tryouts for the 2013 Torrey Pines varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams start on August 14th and continue for the rest of tht week.

TP Fall Athletic Packets are available for download on the TPHS.net website. Packets are due August 1, so please fill out those forms, get your physical, and turn them in ASAP. You will not be permitted to tryout if the packet isn't complete and submitted on time. No exceptions.

The season kicks off with a home scrimmage against defending CIF division two champions Serra HS on August 29th, followed by regular season road game at Otay Ranch HS on Sept 5th.

2012 Season

Four Torrey Pines field hockey players have been named to the 2012 Palomar League All-Star Teams. Senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan and junior midfielder Alie Zimmer were chosen for the league first team; junior defender Madison Cohen and senior midfielder Julia Petrey-Juarez made the second team.Congratulation to the latest batch of Falcon All-Stars!

Senior midfielder Kristin Buchanan and junior defender Madison Cohen led Torrey Pines in scoring during the 2012 season, with 18 and 17 total points, respectively. Buchanan also topped the team in goals scored (7) while Cohen was the leader in assists (5). Rounding out the top five in scoring were sophomore forward Clare Young (15 points), junior midfielder Alie Zimmer (14) and freshman forward Shannon Yogerst (13).

Clare Young and Alayna Tomlinson were among the top sophomore scorers in San Diego County. Young wound up No. 4 in local scoring and No. 8 in California according to Max Preps. "Tom" was No. 8 in San Diego and No. 13 in the state.

Torrey's frosh forwards topped both San Diego and California in rookie scoring. Shannon Yogerst was the state's overall frosh scoring champ with 13 points, followed by Gabi Jimenez with 8 points. According to Max Preps, that also puts them among the top freshmen scorers in the nation for 2012 -- Yogerst was No. 9 and Jimenez No. 13 in the USA on a list dominated by players from Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Falcon goalkeepers also logged some impressive stats. Senior Paulina Klemm recorded six shutouts and a remarkable 0.805 goals against average -- third best in San Diego among goalies who played in more than four games. Junior keeper Grace Trupe earned eight shutouts and a 1.267 GAA -- 11th best in the county.

A dozen members of the Torrey Pines varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams participated in the Susan G. Komen 5 KM "Race for the Cure" on November 4th in San Diego's Balboa Park.

Photo: Standing: Mahan Chitgari, Hana Chitgari, Gabriela Enriquez, Chloe Fogg, Madi Coughlin, Gabi Jimenez, Madison Cohen, Farah Farjood, Sara Esmaili, Gia Silahian. Front Row: Argerey Stapakis, Alayna Tomlinson

Torrey Pines senior midfielder and team captain Kristen Buchanan has been selected as a member of the 2012 High School Sports Association’s San Diego All-Star Field Hockey Team. Buchanan and the other all-stars will be honored on Saturday, Nov. 17th in a ceremony at La Costa Canyon High School during the CIF Field Hockey Championship Finals. The ceremony will take place on the field, between the Division I (4 pm) and II (6 pm) games, at 5:00pm

Torrey Pines lost to defending champs Fallbrook in overtime on Tuesday afternoon in a San Diego scction CIF quarterfinal showdown on the road in Fallbrook. As the scoreline might indicate, there wasn't an awful lot of offense from either team in a battle that was largely waged in the midfield. The Falcons managed just four shots on goal in 70 minutes of play. But the Warriors didn't fair much better on attack, mustering just seven shots before the goal that finally clinched the game.

Torrey Beats Mira Mesa in CIF Opener

No. 5 seeded Torrey Pines defeated No 12 seeded Mira Mesa 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the 2012 CIF field hockey playoffs. Senior middy Julia Petrey-Juarez, sophomore forward Clare Young and frosh forward Gabi Jiminez scored for the Falcons. Junior defender Madison Cohen logged two assists and junior middy Alie Zimmer another, as the Falcons outshot the visiting Marauders 17-0. Senior keeper Paulina Klemm earned the shutout in goal. Torrey now advances to the division one Elite Eight and a game on Tuesday afternoon against No. 4 seed Fallbrook on the road in Fallbrook.

Westview Grass Can't Stop Falcons

Torrey Pines rounded off its 2012 Palomar League campaign with a 1-0 win over Westview on Tuesday afternoon in a game played on the Wolverines grass field rather than their nice stadium turf. Junior midfielder Alie Zimmer was the hero this time, scoring on a solo effort off a short corner in the second half. But it's not like the Falcons didn't have other chances: they chalked up 12 shots on goal compared to just three for Westview and won the battle for penalty corners 10-6.

The JV Falcons beat the Wolverines 2-0 on first half goals by Gia Silahian and Gaby LeRose. Gabriela Enriquez dished out the assist on one of those goals. Sara Esmaili and Katie Gitre shared the shutout in goal in the last game of the junior varsity season.

The varsity girls will play on for at least another week in the San Diego Section CIF playoffs, which start on Saturday. The playoff teams and brackets will probably be announced late Weds night or early Thurs morning.

Ravens Clip Falcons

No. 3 ranked Canyon Crest beat No. 5 ranked Torrey Pines 3-0 on Thursday afternoon to clinch at least a tie for the 2012 Palomar League championship. Much of the battle was waged in the midfield, with both teams earning relatively few corners and shots on goals compared to most of their other games this season. But the Ravens were clearly better inside the 30 yard line at both ends of the field, limiting the Falcons to just one shot on goal at one end of the field and capitalizing on their limited scoring chances at the other.

The Ravens came out smoking and threatened to take the lead several times in the first 10 minutes. Torrey keeper Paulina Klemm -- playing only her second game after three weeks off with an injury -- came up with a huge save early in the game on a CCA breakaway. Shortly after, senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan made two defensive saves on Ravens short corners. The Falcons earned a couple of their own short corners midway through the half, but one shut was too high and the othjer wide right. CCA finally broke through with around two minutes to play in the half, a ball touched by at least four Ravens before a short hopper just got past Klemm.

The Falcons had several good looks at the goal early in the second half, couldn't put the ball in the cage. The Ravens answered with a run of their own that produced two goals in quick order and basically decided the outcome of the game. The first came off a short corner, the second was an own goal that deflected off a Falcons players. Suddenly it was 3-0 and Torrey in a deep hole. Showing the grit and determination they've had all season, the Falcons fought back. They earned four short corners in the last nine minutes but couldn't close the gap.

The JV Falcons tied their Raven counterparts 0-0 in the warm-up. Unlike their first meeting -- which CCA won 2-0 -- it was Torrey that dominated from start to finish this time. The Falcons earned 13 short corners to just two for the Ravens, and had seven shots on goals versus zero for CCA. The only stat Torrey didn't dominate was actual scoring. And while that may have been frusting on the day, it portends well for the Falcons future. The Ravens junior varsity is dominated by juniors and sophomores; Torrey's younger team is all freshmen but one. Leading the attack this time were frosh forward Gia Silahian with three shots on goal and soph middy Amira Dhanoa with two. Katie Gitre earned another shutout in goal.

Falcons Slip Past Sundevils

Alayna Tomlinson scored the only goal of the game as Torrey Pines beat Mt Carmel 1-0 on the road in Rancho Penasquitos on Tuesday night. It was a rather lackluster game without a lot of highlights. The Falcons won time of possession and more short corners, but the tough Sundevil defense and some great saves by the Mt. Carmel keeper kept it close until the final whistle.

Tomlinson's winning shot -- which zoomed right between the Sundevil goalie's legs -- came at the end of a wonderful passing sequence right up the middle of the Mt Carmel defense. Kristen Buchanan kicked things off with a hard blast from just inside Falcon territory. Shannon Yogerst took the pass and dished off to Clare Young at the top of the circle, who got the ball to Tomlinson on the right post.

Torrey had eight short corners in the second half, but didn't score until the final try (see below). Most of the corners were drawn by the deft stickwork of Julia Petrey-Juarez and Alie Zimmer, but the Falcons struggled to get off a good shot on goal. Tomlinson just missed scoring again with about 10 minutes left in the game. A few minutes later, Zimmer nearly scored when she took a homeerun swing at a high ball deep in the circle -- a shot the Mt Carmel keeper deftly turned away.

And then came the grand finale, yet another reffing contorversy in a season that seems to be plagued by them. Torrey got a short corner with less than a minute left in the game. The rule book clearly states that you play it out even if the game clock has expired. But as Buchanan wound up to take her shot, one of the refs blew the game-ending whistle. Buchanan's rocket zipped past the Sundevil keeper into the left side of the cafe. But that same ref called off the goal. Game over. The bizarre call drew protests from both coaches. In perhaps the best example of sportsmanship we have seen all year, the Mt Carmel head coach also protested the call, screaming across the field: "That should be a goal!" But all for nought, because the refs refused to end the game according to standard field hockey rules.

Game notes: Argerey Stapakis, Gabi Jimenez and Clare Young also got off shots for the Falcons . . . Grace Trupe and Paulina Klemm split the shutout for Torrey in Klemm's first game back from injury . . . The win kept Torrey Pines tied for second (with Poway) in the Palomar League and sets up another huge battle with first-place CCA on Thursday.

The JV Falcons had a goal fest, winning 10-0 against an overmatched and injry riddled Mt Carmel team that was down to eight players by the end of the game. Dani Jackel scored twice for Torrey while single goals were registered by Poojah Bisarya, Gabriela Enriquez, Rylie Pope, Mikaila Reyes, Meaghan Donnelly, Gia Silahian, Gaby LeRose and birthday girl Sammy Cirino. Sara Esmaili made one save in goal on her way to the shutout.

1. Scripps Ranch
2. Serra
3. CCA
4. RBV
5. Torrey Pines
6. San Pasqual
7. Fallbrook
8. Vista
9. LCC
10. Poway

Falcons Fly Past Broncos

Senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan scored twice to lead No. 3 ranked Torrey Pines to a 2-0 Palomar League victory over Rancho Bernardo on Thursday evening on the road in RB. Buchanan first score came less than a minute into the game, when she scored on a penalty stroke after the Broncos goalie trapped the ball. Nobody scored again until late in the second half, when Buchanan blasted the ball into the back of the RB cage off a penalty corner. Torrey dominated play from start to finish, outshootng the Broncos 9 to zero and earning 13 short corners to none for the home team. Still, it wasn't easy scoring against a team bottled up in its own zone for most of the game. Senior Martisa Enriquez, juniors Alie Zimmer and Argerey Stapakis, and freshman Shannon Yogerst also got off shots against RB. Grace Trupe logged another shutout in goal for the Falcons.

Combined with a 1-0 Poway win over previously undefeated CCA, the Falcons are now just one game behind the first place Ravens at the top of the Palomar League.

The JV Falcons beat their RB counterparts by the same 2-0 score on second half goals by Emily Belshin and Hana Chitgari. Poojah Bisarya and Meaghen Donnelly assisted on the scores. Falcons keeper Sara Esmaili earned the shutout while the defense allowed the Broncos just one shot on the goal for the entire game.

Unranked Poway scored off a short corner early in overtime to upset No. 3 ranked Torrey Pines 1-0 at Falcons Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The loss -- their first at home this season -- dropped the Falcons into a second place tie with the Titans in the Palomar League; CCA is now two games clear at the head of the pack.

Torrey dominated long periods of regulation, with senior midfielders Kristen Buchanan and Julia Petrey-Juarez deftly pushing the ball into the Poway zone. But the Titan defense held tight inside the 30 yard line. The visitors turned the tables in overtime, aggressively attacking from the tipoff and earning two short corners to just one for Torrey.

1, Scripps Ranch
2. Canyon Crest Academy
3. Torrey Pines
4. Serra
5. Ranch Buena Vista
6. San Pasqual
7. Falbrook
8. Vista
9. La Costa Canyon
10. Cathedral

Palomar League Standings
(at halfway point)
                                  W        L          GF       GA      GD
1. Canyon Crest                       5          0          10         2          +8
2. Torrey Pines                       4          1          13         4          +9
3. Poway                                 3          2           8          6          +2
4. Mt Carmel                           2          3           5          6          -1
5. Westview                            1          4           5          9          -4
6. Rancho Bernardo                 0          5           1          14        -13

Buchanan featured in Spotlight Sports
Senior captain Kristen Buchananis the focus of an article in the fall issue of Spotlight Sports Magazine. Read all about it at -- TP's Kristen Buchanan

Torrey Thumps Wolverines

No 4 Torrey Pines thumped visiting Westview 5-1 on Thursday afternoon in a Palomar League game at Falcons Stadium. Senior forward Maritsa Enriquez and frosh forward Shannon Yogerst gave Torrey a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Sophomore forward Clare Young, junior middy Alie Zimmer and senior middy Julia Petrey-Juarez padded the lead after intermission as the Falcons upped their league record to four wins and one loss. Senior Kristen Buchanan dished on two of the Torrey goals, while junior Madison Cohen, freshman Gabi Jimenez and Zimmer provided additional assists. Torrey wracked up 20 short corners and 14 shots on goal against the Wolvernies. The five goals is the most the Falcons have scored in a game this season. With the league season halfway through, Torrey is alone in second place, one game behind CCA and a game ahead of third place Poway and Mt Carmel.

The JV Falcons beat back the Wolverines 2-0. All of the Torrey scoring came in the second half, gals by Dani Jackel and Meaghen Donnelly and an assist by Rylie Pope. Katie Gitre got the shutout in goal.

Ravens Outshoot Falcons

No. 3 Canyon Crest Academy beat No. 4 Torrey Pines in strokes on Tuesday afternoon on the lawn at Canyon Crest, after regulation ended in a 1-1 draw and nobody scored in overtime. After a scoreless first half, junior midfielder Alie Zimmer gave the Falcons the lead in the second frame -- only the second goal scored against the Ravens this season and the first on their home grass. But CCA tied the score with less than 10 minutes to play. And for the fifth time this year a Torrey Pines field hockey game was decided on strokes. CCA pushed across four shots to just two for the Falcons.

Torrey Pines got off to its usual lackluster start and CCA controlled the tempo for much of the scoreless first half. And per usual, the Falcons came soaring out after intermission, with Zimmer and Julia Petrey-Juarez leading the way. Zimmer's amazing solo goal put Torrey ahead 1-0 -- the first time all season the Ravens have been behind in a game and only the second goal scored against them this year. But CCA fought back and managed to tie the score with the clock ticking down.

CCA hit all four of its strokes while Torrey missed on two out of three. Madison Cohen was the only Falcon who found the back of the cage. Alayna Thomlinson missed high and left -- the first stroke she has ever missed in a game -- while Kristen Buchanan's shot was blocked by the Ravens keeper. With CCA up four to one at that point, the game was over.

Game Notes: Torrey earned 10 short corners, to 11 for Canyon Crest . . . The Raven are now alone at the top of the Palomar League standings with four wins and no losses; Torrey Pines is tied for second (3-1) with Mt Carmel . . . the Tp-CCA game received considerable coverage in local TV and newspapers (see below) as well as the national high school field hockey website "Top of the Circle".

The JV Falcons dropped a 2-0 decision to the Ravens, although Torrey can take some solace in the fact that CCA's junior varsity has almost no freshman, while Torrey's lineup boasts only one player who isn't a high school rookie.

Falcons Scorch Sundevils In Strokes

For the fourth time this season the outcome of a Torrey Pines field hockey game was decided on strokes as Torrey Pines beat visiting Mt Carmel in a Friday afternoon battle at Falcons Stadium. Madison Cohen, Alayna Tomlinson and Farah Farjood hit their strokes to give the Falcons a 3-2 advantage over the Devils after regulation and overtime ended in a 0-0 tie. The game would have never got that far if Falcons keeper Grace Trupe hadn't made a spectacular save on a Mr Carmel breakaway with just a few minutes left in regulation. The win keeps Torrey tied at the top of the Palomar League with CCA, a 4-0 winner over Rancho Bernardo on Friday afternoon.

With three upper classman away on recruiting trips and another temporarily sidelined with an injury, the game offered a glimpse into the Falcons future. Torrey started two sophomores and three freshman (and just three seniors) against Mt Carmel. And several people played out of their regular positions, especially on the penalty corners. Despite their youth and the reshuffled line-up, head coach Katy Moyneur's team dominated much of the game, earning 15 short corners to just 5 for the visiting Devils. Julia Petrey-Juarez was brilliant in midfield and Cohen had one of her best games of the season as the Falcons kept the ball in the Mt Carmel zone for 60-70% of the game. Frosh forward Gabi Jimenez, soph forward Clare Young and ace defender Cohen came close to scoring in the second half. But it was one of those games during which the ball seemed to have an magical aversion to going into the cage (although a lot of that was due to some nifty work by the Sundevils keeper).

Moyneur's line-up for the 7v7 overtime included one senior (Petrey-Juarez), three juniors (Cohen, Trupe and Argerey Stapakis) and three freshmen (Farjood, Jimenez and Shannon Yogerst). Tomlinson and Young also played in OT. And while the Falcons were able to draw two corners to none for Mt Carmel, the game remained tied after an additional 10 minutes of play.

Given how many strokes they've already taken this season, the Falcons went into the penalty phase with quite of confidence. Tomlinson and Cohen hit the first two strokes to give Torrey the early lead. Trupe blocked the first Mt Carmel stroke but the next one was a rocket in the upper left-hand corner. Petrey-Juarez smacked a hard grounder to the right side, but the Devils keeper managed to deflect the ball with her left foot. Mt Carmel hit their third stroke and suddenly it was all tied. And Torrey's fate down to a pair of frosh taking their first high school strokes. Yogerst also launched a great shot -- waist-high on the left side -- which the the Mt Carmel keeper batted it away with her stick. The fourth Mt Carmel stroke hit the left post. Still tied! Farjood pushed a slow-roller into the right corner and Torrey was up by one. The Devils had one last chance to tie, but their final stroke also hit the left post and the Falcons emerged victorious in strokes for the third time this season.

Game notes: Regular starters Kristin Buchanan, Jenny Isber and Alie Zimmer were away on college recruiting trips and missed the Mt Carmel game. They'll be back in the line-up in Tuesday when the Falcons face CCA.

The JV Faclons clobbered their Sundevil counterparts 9-1 to stay tied with CCA at the top of the Palomar League junior varsity standings. Emily Belshin and Dani Jackel scored two goals each. Lucy Clark, Gaby LeRose, Mikaila Reyes, Gia Silahian and Rylie Pope also scored for the Falcons. Reyes, Silahian and LeRose also logged assists, as did Sammy Cirino and Kristi Spiker. Torrey had 24 shots on goal versus just two for the Devils.

Buchanan Leads Falcons Past Broncos

Senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan scored a hat-trick to lead No. 4 Torrey Pines to a 3-0 win over unranked Rancho Bernardo in a Palomar League game at Falcons stadium on Tuesday afternoon. The win raised Torrey's league record to two wins and no losses, and kept them tied at the top of the league table with No. 3 Canyon Crest, a 1-0 winner over Poway on Tuesday (on a goal in the last five minutes).

The first Buchanan goal came about midway through the first half on a dish from junior middy Alie Zimmer. She scored again with about ten minutes left in the half, on a penalty stroke after senior middy Julia Petrey-Juarez was brought down in the circle by a Broncos defender. She added a third goal in the first minute of the second half, a rocket of a shot off a pass from Petrey-Juarez.

Meanwhile, the Falcons defense was stifling the visiting Broncos, who barely crossed midfield and didn't earn their first short corner until there was less than one minute left in the game. Torrey keeper Grace Trupe blocked the ensuing shot for her only save of the game. At the other end of the field, the RB keeper was turning away one Torrey ball after another including shots by Zimmer, Jennie Isber, Maritsa Enriquez, Clare Young, Madison Cohen, Alayna Tomlinson and Shannon Yogerst that just missed the mark.

Game notes: Torrey Pines earned 18 short corners in the game to just one for Rancho Bernadro . . . The Falcons varsity has now won five straight against RB, with the last Broncos victory coming in Sept of 2009.

The JV Falcons beat their Broncos counterparts 3-0, as Meaghan Donnelly hit for two goals and Mikaila Reyes for another. Rylie Pope had two assists and Gia Silahian another. Torrey held the Bronocs to just one shot on goal; keeper Katie Gitre got the shutout for the Falcons.

Falcons Top Titans in Palomar Opener

Junior middy Alie Zimmer scored twice and sophomore forward Clare Young added a third goal as Torrey Pines beat Poway 3-1 in the Palomar League opener for both squads. Undefeated crosstown rival Canyon Crest (a 1-0 winner at Westview in overtime) and Mt Carmel (a 1-0 winner over Rancho Bernardo) also won their openers as the 10-game league season got underway.

All of Torrey's goals were scored during a 15-minute flurry in the first half when the Falcons played their best hockey of the afternoon. About ten minutes into the game, Shannon Yogerst sent a long cross into the top of the circle to Alie Zimmer, who zigzagged through several Titan defenders for the score. Four minutes later, Gabi Jiminez dished off to Clare Young who slammed the ball into the back of the cage for the second Falcons goal. Poway responded with a score of its own off a short corner. Grace Trupe artfully blocked the first Titans shot, but the rebound off her pads went straight back to a Poway player for a follow-up shot that cut the lead to one. But Torrey came storming right back. Moments later on a brilliant solo effort, Zimmer took the ball right up the middle of the Titans defense and got off a shot that deflected into the cage off a Poway defender's stick. The Torrey defenders took over in the second half, allowing the Titans no shots on goal and not a single short corner.

The JV Falcons beat Poway on overtime strokes to win their league opener. Although the Falcons got off six shots by five different players, regulation ended 0-0. The teams went straight to strokes. Debbie Choi and Poojah Bisarya hit their strokes for Torrey, while Falcons keeper Sara Esmali kept out all but one of the Titans shots to give TP a 2-1 advantage and the win.

Playing their best hockey of the 2012 season so far, No. 4 ranked Torrey Pines took No. 1 Scripps Ranch into overtime before losing 3-2 on the road at Scripps Ranch this afternoon. Junior defender Madison Cohen and senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan scored for Falcons, who dominated long periods of the second half and nearly scored on several other occasions. Julia Petrey-Juarez and Jennie Isber also shined for the Falcons in a game in which the Torrey seniors really rose to the occasion.

In the early going it looked like another train wreck for Torrey as the undefeated SR Falcons attacked repeatedly into the TP Falcons zone. Scripps earned its first penalty corner barely a minute into the game and added eight more over the next 20 minutes. But unlike the previous Saturday, the Torrey defense held tight. Scripps did score off one corner, on a huge slap shot about 10 minutes into the game. But their other corners were thwarted thanks to some great saves by Grace Trupe, a couple of defensive stops and a bit of luck (i.e. foot fouls by Scripps). Slowly but surely you could see Torrey's confidence starting to soar. They nearly scored on a fast break, Alie Zimmer dishing off to Maritsa Enriquez for a shot. With around three minutes until intermission, Torrey earned its first short corner of the game. Madison Cohen managed to get her stick on the ball in the middle of a scrum and blasted it past the Scripps keeper to tie the score -- only the second goal scored against Scripps in 12 games.

Cohen's goal shifted the momentum. Charging out after halftime, Torrey took control of the game, earning seven corners and several great scoring chances. Kristin Buchanan nearly put the Falcons into the lead on a rocket shot on the second of those corners, and then put the Falcons ahead on a sweeping backhand off another corner with 16 minutes left to play -- the first time this season Scripps has trailed in a game. But the lead didn't last long. The home team tied the game a few minutes later on a controversial play. A Scripps forward slammed into and knocked over a Torrey defender, a move that resulted in a short corner for Scripps rather than an offensive foul and turnover to Torrey. The shot off the corner was several feet off the ground and sailed close to at least four field players before going into the cage. After conferring at midfeld, the refs decided to call it a goal (instead of a high ball) and the game was suddely tied again.

The last 15 minutes of regulation produced all-out hockey from both sides, a battle that waged up and down the length of the field. Torrey keeper Paulina Klemm made a great save to preserve the tie, while Buchanan and Clare Young got off shots that just missed giving the Falcons the win in regulation. The game came down to 7v7 overtime. And Scripps didn't wait long to put it away, scoring in the first minute on an attack up the left side that got around the Torrey defense for a one-on-one against the Falcons keeper. A perfectly placed shot into the upper left-hand corner finally won it for Scripps. But it was Torrey that acted like winners afterward, a game the boosted their confidence going into the Palomar League season and proved the Falcons can play with the best.

The JV Falcons dropped their game 4-1 to Scripps, with frosh middy Meaghen Donnelly picking up the lone goal for Torrey.

NCT Tabs Buchanan as Top San Diego Player
In case you missed it last week, the North County Times newspaper has picked Torrey Pines senior midfielder Kristen Buchanan as one the top players in San Diego high school field hockey this year. Read all about it in the paper's annual field hockey preview at . . .

Buchanan was also named one of the NCT's "Athletes of the Week" for her performance on both weekends of the Serra Tourney.

Torrey Pines head coach Katy Moyneur also got a mention in the preview (and her photo in the print edition) in a story about how the 2012 field hockey season may unfold . . .

It was a strange final round of the annual Serra Tournament for Torrey Pines, a day that included two games decided by strokes and their worst loss of the season, as well as a stunning upset of the host team and a fourth place overall finish. On another hot Saturday afternoon in Tierrasanta, the Falcons beat Serra in strokes in the quaterfinals, lost to eventual tourney champion Scripps Ranch 5-0 in the semis and then lost to Rancho Buena Vista in strokes in the 3rd/4th place game. Although they didn't reach the title game, the Torrey girls came away from the tournament with the satisfaction of knowing they had cemented their place among the top four teams in the county. They also earned a large dose of redemption from events that had unfolded earlier in the week. Falcon seniors Kristen Buchanan and Jennie Isber were both named to the Serra Tournament All-Star Team.

Quarterfinal: Torrey Pines 2, Serra 1 (strokes)
In the day's opening game, the No. 4 ranked Falcons faced off against the No. 5 ranked Conquistadores. But given that the match was being played on Serra's home (grass) field, the Qs were the definite favorites The first half was hard fought by both teams and mostly played out in the midfield. Serra earned the only penalty corner about eight minutes into the half, but wound up deflecting their own shot away from the goal. Torrey senior keeper Paulina Klemm turned away another Serra shot on a breakaway as the teams went intermission tied 0-0. The Falcons stepped up the pressure in the second half, earning their first short corner and taking the lead on a tip-in by frosh forward Shannon Yogerst off a pass from junior middy Argerey Stapakis with about 12 minutes left to play. The Conquistadors came charging back, tying the game just a few minutes later off a short corner. And it came down to strkes. Sophomore Alayna Tomlinson, and seniors Kristen Buchanan and Jennie Isber blasted their strokes past the Serra keeper, while Klemm turned back all but of the Serra strokes to secure the win for Torrey Pines.

Semifinal: Scripps Ranch 5, Torrey Pines 0
It didn't take long for the Falcons to learn why Scripps is number-one ranked and a runaway favorite to take the CIF division one title this season. The other Falcons run their soccer-style, give-and-go to perfection, relentless drives up their right (strong) side that finish in rocket-like crosses into the circle. Less than three minutes into the game, Scripps logged its first goal on a slow-roller that barely made it across the goal line. About ten minutes into the half they made it 2-0 on a fast break up the right side and a perfect cross to a wide-open Scripps player on the left post. Goal number three came on a penalty stroke after a Torrey defender accidentally took down a Scripps forward in th circle on a breakaway. One more score and it was 4-0 at the half and the outcome no longer in doubt. Once again, Torrey played much better in the second half, earning a couple of corners and scoring opportunities, and holdng Scripps to just a single score -- although Torrey defender Jennie Isber did her best to try and prevent that goal with a sliding stick-extended dive that just missed turning the ball away.

Third-Fourth Place Game: RBV 1, Torrey Pines 0 (strokes)
Torrey Pines and Rancho Buena Vista faced off for the second time this week, this time in the game to decide third and fourth place in the tournament. What a difference four days and a couple of hard practices can make, because the Falcons were a whole different team this time, playing good aggressive hockey in one of their best performances of the season thus far. Rather than decide the consolation game on strokes as often happens in the Serra tourney, the coaches decided on playing an abbreviated 40-minute game. RBV had more chances in the first half, but a stingy Torrey defense kept them out of the cage. As they do in nearly every game nowadays, the Falcons played much better in the second half, earning more short corners and the only real scoring chance of the entire game. About nine minute into the half, Alayna Tomlinson drew a penalty corner and Alie Zimmer blasted the shot off the cross bar, right above the head of the Longhorns goalie. Five minutes later, Zimmer placed another hard shot just wide of the RBV cage. With the game tied 0-0 after regulation, it came down to eight rounds of strokes before the outcome was finally decided. Tomlinson made two for Torrey, but three other Falcons hit the post. Junior keeper Grace Trupe was brilliant in goal for the Falcons, turning away four hard shots. But the Longhorns eventually hit one more stroke than the Falcons to earn the win.

Championship: Scripps 3, Vista 0
Scripps went on to win the title game 3-0 over the Vista Panthers, a team that Torrey beat 1-0 on the road two weeks ago. After beating every team they have faced by at least three goals this season -- and allowing just two goals against in ten games -- the only question that remains is if anyone can figure out how to best the Scripps blend of speed and power.

Salvador Dali would have loved it – Torrey’s trip to Rancho Buena Vista last night – because it really was surreal. How you can get carded for wearing earrings in the warm-up game and not even draw a whistle for elbows, straight arms and body slams in the nightcap. Less than 24 hours after the Monday Night Football debacle, it was like whatever bad air inflicted Seattle had drifted down the coast to San Diego north county and a high school field hockey game.

But you can’t blame it all on the fellow in yellow. For the first time this season, the No. 4 ranked Falcons were largely out-hustled and out-muscled on their way to a 3-0 loss to the No. 2 Longhorns. It was the kind of game that teams have every so often, when you can’t seem to make a pass, hit a ball or get a call that goes your way. Against a minor opponent, the Falcons would have got away with it. But against a tough, good team like RBV, calamity was waiting in the wings.

True to their modus operandi, the Falcons were slow out of the gate, giving up three short corners in the first ten minutes. They managed to survive that onslaught and the score remained even until about halfway through the first half when a short sequence of related plays decided the outcome. Alie Zimmer doubled over with an injury deep in the Longhorn zone. Expecting the refs to blow a whistle for an injury timeout, the Falcons basically stopped in their tracks. But RBV kept playing, pushing the ball into the Torrey zone. There was confusion on the sidelines as the Falcons tried to figure out if they could legally insert another player at that point. By the time Alie stumbled off the field and Alayna Tomlinson rushed in, the Longhorns had advanced the ball past the Falcon defense and into the cage.

Another goal (a beautiful sweep from the right side) put the home team up 2-0 by intermission – the first time this season that Torrey has been more than one goal down at any time, in any game. Refusing to roll over and die, the Falcons came out strong in the second half, earning their first short corner of the game inside the first minute. They kept up the pressure throughout the second half – nearly scoring on a couple of breakaways – but that Seattle vibe continued to plague them down to the final whistle.

On several different levels it was one of those watershed moments in which the true nature of players and teams are revealed, and that will set a tone for many games (or seasons) to come. Much like the Green Bay Packers leaving Seattle on Monday night, the Falcons will carry what happened on that field in Vista far into the future.

Game notes: RBV had 6 penalty corners in the first half to zero for Torrey Pines . . . the Falcons had 4 short corners in the second half compared to only 2 for the Longhorns . . . Longhorns had 6 shots on goal vs three for the Falcons (by Tomlinson, Kristen Buchanan and Gabi Jimenez).

Over on the JV side, the Longhorns bested Torrey 1-0 on a goal that came with only seconds to play before halftime. Once again, owing to injuries and holidays, the Falcons were without the services of at least three key players. RBV's junior varsity had more penalty corners (8 vs 6) and more shogts on goal (8 vs 0) than Torrey Pines. Katie Gitre made four saves in goal for the Falcons.

Torrey Pines rose one spot to No. 4 in the latest San Diego County rankings released by the North County Times:

1. Scripps Ranch
2. RBV
3. Canyon Crest
4. Torrey Pines
5. Serra
6. Fallbrook
7. Vista
8. Cathedral
9. LCC
10 SDA

Junior defender Madison Cohen scored three times and Falcons defense allowed just one goal in three games, as Torrey Pines trudged through a very hot day of pool play at the 36th anual Serra Field Hockey Tournament on Saturday. The Falcons soared past Hilltop 3-0 in an early morning contest, but their seven-game win streak came to an end with a 0-1 loss to Fallbrook in the next game. They ended pool play on a high note with a 4-0 win over La Jolla.

Torrey Pines 3, Hilltop 0
Freshman forward Shannon Yogerst logged a goal and one assist to lead the Falcons past traditional East County hockey power Hilltop. Soph forward Alayan Tomlinson started the scoring with a goal about 13 minutes into the game, off a pass from senior middy Krisan Buchanan. Early in the second half, Yogerst dished to Madison Cohen for the second goal, and then finished off the scoring herself with a sweeping shot off a pass from Alie Zimmer. Paulina Klemm and Grace Truce shared the shutout in goal.

Torrey Pines 0, Fallbrook 1
It all came down to one play. Fallbrook scored the game's only goal on a breakaway about halfway through the second half, speeding past the Torrey defense and rocketing a perfectly placed shot past Falcons keeper Paulina Klemm. Torrey Pines tried to rally, attacking again and again as the clock wound down. Alayna Tomlinson, Clare Young and Kristan Buchanan got off shots on goal, but couldn't put the ball in the cage. The loss was the Falcons first of the 2012 season and sweet revenge for the Warriors after an earlier 1-2 loss to Torrey.

Torrey Pines 4, La Jolla 0
Madison Cohen found the magic touch as the Falcons rebounded from the Fallbrook loss with an excellent game against the Vikings. She scored what turned out to be the game winner just three minutes into the contest, slamming the rebound of a Shannon Yogerst shot (off the keeper's pads) into the La Jolla cage. Alayna Tomlinson scored just two minutes later, off a pass from Kristan Buchanan. And senior middy Julia Petrey-Juarez made it 3-0 before intermission, after a long cross by junior midfielder Madi Coughlin from the right side. Cohen rounded off the Torrey scoring in the second half with another gal after a short corner.

As the Serra Tourney does not have a website and the pool results were not published in either local newspaper, only those who stayed until the very end (three hours after Torrey Pines finished) and counted p the points themselves know who made the second round next Saturday and who will be playing who in the quaterfinals.

Freshman forward Gabi Jimenez tipped in a shot by junior midfielder Argerey Stapakis with just under 10 minutes left in the game to give Torrey Pines a tough 1-0 victory over the Vista Panthers on the road in Vista on Thursday afternoon.

It seems like Torrey-Vista games are always low scoring, nail-biters and this one was no exception. The Panthers came into the contest undefeated and unscored upon in four games. Playing on their home turf, they had to be favorites, and that's how the first half unfolded -- Vista hunkering down on defense and Torrey unable to get the ball through the skilled Panther midfield. Alayna Tomlinson, Alie Zimmer and Shannon Yogerst came closest to scoring for the Falcons before intermission. But the "highlight" of the first half was a questionable yellow card on Jenny Isbar for what appeared to be a flop by a Vista player trying to move the ball up the right flank. Torrey actually played some of its best ball during the five minutes they were a player down.

The second half was another grind-it-out affair, most of the play in the midfield, the Panthers consistently thwarting the Falcon attacks but failing to muster much offense of their own. Torrey only broke through Vista's steel curtain once, but they made the Pantheres pay dearly for that one mistake. As Zimmer brought the ball up the right side, the entire Vista defense shifted to that side of the field -- leaving two Falcons wide open in front of the Panthers cage. Zimmer passed to Madi Coughlin in the corner, who quickly dished off to an uncovered Stapakis. Her shot towards the left post was deflected by Jimenez into the back of the cage -- the first goal that's been scored on Vista this season.

Game notes: Paulina Klemm and Grace Trupe shared the shutout in goal . . . the Panthers earned four short corners (to 8 for the Falcons) but never got off a shot on goal . . . at this time last season, Torrey had three wins and three losses . . . nine different Falcons have scored this season (in six games) and four of the team's top five scorers are underclassmen (freshmen or sophomores).

Falcons Rally Past SDA

Junior defender Madison Cohen and freshman forward Shannon Yogerst notched second half goals as Torrey Pines rallied for a 2-1 win over San Dieguito Academy on Tuesday afternoon in Encinitas. Learning once again that the grass isn't necessarily greener when it comes to moving the ball, the Falcons struggled on the thick and patchy SDA lawn. The Mustangs were much more adept on their home field, taking the lead just seven minutes into the game on a shot that appeared to be too far outside the circle to be legal. Torrey didn't mount a serious threat until the closing moments of the half when both Julia Petry-Juarez and Gabi Jimenez got off shots.

Re-energized by Head Coach Katy Moyneur's halftime talk, the Falcons charged out after intermission. Seizing the momentum, they attacked again and again into the Mustang zone, drawing a shot corner that resulted on Cohen's first goal of the season eight minutes into the half. SDA responded with a fast break that Falcons keeper Paulina Klemm snuffed with a great save and several great passes across the Torrey goal mouth that nobody could get a final stick on. The Falcons appeared to take the lead with about 12 minutes left to play when Kristen Buchanan rocketed the ball into the back of the Mustang cage from around the same spot as SDA's first half score. But this time the refs waived it off -- no goal. Time winding down -- and the overtime looming -- Torrey Pines mounted a furious attack. A Yogerst steal and breakaway earned a short corner, but no goal. The SDA keeper blocked a hard Alayna Tomlinson shot. With less than a minute to play, the Falcons earned one last corner, Cohen flicking the ball to Yogerst, who tipped it into the right side of the SDA cage for the win.

In the warm-up game, the JV Falcons bested SDA 2-0 on two goals by Gaby LeRose and another shutout by keeper Katie Gitre. More details to come . . .

The junior varsity Falcons finished with a well-deserved second at the Serra Tournament on Saturday, falling 2-0 to Scripps Ranch in the final after playing three pool games and the semifinal in plus 100 degree temperatures. Torrey beat University City 5-0, Vista 2-0 and La Jolla 3-0 in pool play, then bested tournament host Serra 1-0 in sudden death strokes in the semis. Congrats to Gaby LeRose, Rylie Pope and Mikaila Reyes for making the all-tournament team.

Torrey Pines 5, University City 0
Falcons open the Serra JV Tournament with a 5-0 win over Unversity City High School in Pool B play. 2 goals by Debbie Choi and a goal each for Mikaila Reyes, Meaghan Donnelly and Lucy Clark. shutout: Katie Gitre.

Torrey Pines 2, Vista 0
Enjoying 100 degree F weather, the JV Falcons defeated Vista 2-0 on goals by Meaghan Donnely and Debbie Choi. Shutout: Katie Gitre.

Torrey Pines 3, La Jolla 0
TP stayed perfect in pool play with a 3-0 win over La Jolla. The junior Falcons got 2 goals from Gaby LeRose and a goal and an assist from Dani Jackel. The dominating defense did not allow a single shot on goal. Shutout: Katie Gitre.

Semifinal: Torrey Pines 1, Serra 0 (strokes)
Torrey Pines beat Serra 1-0 in sudden victory strokes in the A/B semifinal of the Serra JV Tournament. The Falcons and Conquistadors played to a well matched 0-0 stalemate in the regulation 40 minutes. Gaby LeRose put the winning penalty shot past the Serra goalie after the Serra stroker missed high and left of the imposing Katie Gitre in goal for the Falcons. The win put Torrey into the championship game against Scripps Ranch, a match between a pair of Falcons.

Championship: Scripps Ranch 2, Torrey Pines 0
Falcons were destined to win the Serra JV Tournament Championship. And, Falcons were destined to get 2nd. This time the Torrey Pines Falcons came up short to the Scripps Ranch Falcons. After a long and very hot day on the pitch, Torrey succumbed to the pressure of 19 penalty corners and gained a second place finish with the 2-0 loss. Torrey earned 2 penalty corners and 1 shot on goal, by Emily Belshin. Katie Gitre was impressive again turning away 5 Scripps shots on goal.

Falcons Gallop Past Mustangs

Freshmen forwards Gabi Jimenez and Shannon Yogerst scored their first varsity goals and senior Maritsa Enriquez chipped in a third as Torrey Pines beat visiting Otay Ranch 3-0 in a nonleague game at Falcon Stadium. The win boosted the Torrey's record to 4-0.

The Falcons got off to another slow start, playing less than inspired hockey through most of the first half despite keeping the ball in Otay's zone for much of the time. It didn't help that the Mustangs often had 10 players back on defense, crowding the circle. Torrey finally broke through with just 46 seconds left until halftime, when Yogerst slipped a slow roller past the Otay keeper, a goal the proved to be the eventual game winner.

Trying to even the contest, the Mustangs pulled everyone into the attack early in the second half. But the tactic backfired, leading to a four-on-one fastbreak for the Torrey offense that culminated with Jimenez placing a perfect pass from Clare Young into the left-hand side of the Otay cage. Just three minutes later, Yogerst drew a foul just outside the Mustangs circle. Julia Petry-Juarez blasted the free hit to Enriquez, who swirled and shot into the right-hand side of the cage for the final Torrey score. The Falcons logged 8 shots on goal to just one by the Mustangs (saved by Paulina Klemm).

The JV team beat Otay Ranch 10-0. The outcome was basically decided in the first 10 minutes as Torrey raced to a 3-0 lead over the overmatched Mustangs on goals by Emily Belshin, Debbie Choi and Poojah Bisarya. By halftime it was 6-0. Belshin and Bisarya finished the game with two goals apiece, as did Kate Betts. Gaby LeRose, Dani Jackel and Katie Gitre (playing the second half on the field rather than in goal) also scored for the Falcons. Sammy Cirino made her first appearance in goal in the second half, but such was Torrey's domination of the game that she didn't have to make a save. The Falcons finished with 13 penalty corners to nine for the Mustangs, and Otay failed to get off a single shot on goal.

Torrey Upsets Serra in Strokes

No. 5 ranked Torrey Pines upset No. 2 ranked Serra this evening in a thriller of a hockey game that came down to overtime and strokes at Falcon Stadium. After regulation ended in a 1-1 tie, the two teams played 10 minutes of scoreless overtime before going to penalty shots. Serra took an early 2-0 lead, but Torrey Pines responded with three strokes of their own as Alayna Tomlinson, Jennie Isber and finally Alie Zimmer knocked their shots past the Conquistadors keeper for the win.

Serra dominated most of the first half, earning more short corners and time of possession. Their attacks finally paid off about 20 minutes into the half when a fast-breaking forward sprinted around the last Torrey defender and fired off a perfectly placed shot into the lower left-hand corner of the goal. The Falcons didn't get their first short corner until three minutes left until intermission. And while it didn't reslt in a goal, it seemed to charge up the home team. And moments later they tied the game on a goal by sophomore Clare Young out of a scrum in front of the Conquistador cage -- a ball that Maritsa Enriquez and Gabi Jimenez also got their sticks on before Young finished.

Their momentum stoked by Young's goal, the Falcons turned the tables on Serra in the second half, dominating play and time of possession. Kristen Buchanan was a rock in the middle of the field, continually shutting down Serra's star midfielder and helping to turn the tide of the game. Torrey earned nine short corners over the course of the half, but furious Serra defending kept the ball out of the cage. The Q's nearly took the lead on a breakaway with three minutes left in regulatio, but Falcons keeper Paulina Klemm swatted the shot away. Klemm also blockd a Serra shot in overtime and Julia Petrey-Juarez nearly scored for Torrey before it went to strokes. Going down 2-0 in strokes right off the bat, things didn't look good for the Falcons. But Torrey hit three of their last four shots to take the lead and a well-earned win over favored Serra.

The JV Falcons beat their Serra counterparts 2-1 on goals by Amira Shanoa and Dani Jackel. Katie Gitre made nine stops in goal as the little Falcons remained undefeated. More details to come.

Varsity game notes: Clare Young's goal was her third of the season and the sophomore currently leads the Falcons in scoring . . . the defeat was Serra's first loss since winning the CIF Division Two championship last fall . . . the Conquistadors have won 18 San Diego Section championships overall . . . Torrey Pines started three freshmen (Farah Farjood, Gabi Jimenez and Shannon Yogerst) for the first time in modern Falcons hockey history.

Torrey Pines is fifth in the first San Diego County field hockey rankings, released on Monday by the North County Times:

1. Scripps Ranch
2. Serra
3. Rancho Buena Vista
4. Canyon Crest Academy
5. Torrey Pines
6. La Costa Canyon
7. Vista
8. Cathedral Catholic
9. San Pasqual
10. San Dieguito Academy
Compiled by county coaches

Torrey Takes Down Nighthawks

It took the Falcons a while to get flying, but once they did there was no stopping the attack as Torrey Pines sailed to a 4-0 win over Del Norte in a nonleague game at Nighthawk Stadium in 4S Ranch. The visitors dominated play from the opening tip, but couldn't string enough good passes together to mount a serious offensive threat until sophomore Clare Young scored out of a scrum in front of the Del Norte cage with 7:11 to play in the first half. Less than four minutes later the Falcons made it 2-0 as Madi Coughlin scored off a perfect cross from Young on the right flank. Torrey continued the relentless attack after intermission, with Coughlin dishing to sophomore Alayna Tomlinson, left wide open in front of the Del Norte goal. The Falcons' final tally came when the Nighthawks keeper blocked a shot by freshman Shannon Yogerst straight back to senior Kristen Buchanan, who fired off a rocket into the back of the cage.

Torrey Pines earned 11 short corners during the game, to just 3 for Del Norte. The Falcons were even more dominant in shots on goal: 21 versus just one for the Nighthawks. Torrey goalie Grace Trupe was forced to make just one save (although it was spectacular). One of the rising stars of San Diego fielde hockey, Del Norte made it all the way to the CIF D2 quarterfinals last season. The four-goal loss to Torrey was the Nighthawks worst regular season defeat since October of 2010.

The JV Falcons also lit up the cage, beating Del Norte 5-0. Dani Jackel chaked up a hattrick for the Falcons while Gia Silahian had two goals. Katie Gitre logged the shutout in goal.

Falcons Whip Warriors in Season Opener

Torrey Pines started the 2012 season -- and the coaching era of Katy Moyneur and Chilly Banuelos-Lomeli -- in grand style on Tuesdeay with a well-earned 2-1 victory over Fallbrook, the defending CIF Division One champions. The game also marked the debut of the Falcons' brand new turf field, installed this past summer.

Much of the first half play was in the midfield as the two teams tested their new lineups, resulting in no goals, few shots and only a couple of short corners. But things heated up in the second half, with both the Falcons and visiting Warriors finding their offensive groove. Torrey drew first blood when senior Julia Petrey-Juarez scored off a pass from freshman Gabi Jiminez on a short corner with 22:04 left in the game.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Falcons made it 2-0 on a fast break up the right side, Petrey-Juarez sending a perfect pass to Clare Young streaking unmarked down the middle of the field. Young cut to the right, drew the Fallbrook keeper off the line and got off a rocket shot into the back of the cage. But Fallbrook rallied, earning a series of short corners that culminated in a slow-roller goal with 7:53 to play. The remainder of the game was a wild affair with play that raged up and down the field and several tense short corners for each team. But Torrey held on for the unexpected win and a great start to their 2012 campaign.

Both teams finished the game with 5 short corners. The Falcons had 11 shots on goal to 9 for the Warriors. Torrey keeper Paulina Klemm was great in the goal, stopping 8 Falbrook shots.

The two San Diego field hockey powers had split their last four games versus one another, the Warriors prevailing 4-0 last year and in the 2009 CIF semifinals (in strokes), and Torrey winning the other two games 2-1 and 3-2.

The Falcons junior varsity also got their season off to a great start, tying the Warriors 1-1 in the warm-up game. Freshman Gabu LeRose scored Torrey's goal in the first half. The Falcons earned 7 short corners to just 2 for the Warriors and Torrey's defense held Fallbrook to zero corners in the second half.

So, "My daughter has been playing field hockey for years, and this game still seems so confusing. What's a parent to do?"

Simple, take a look at the US Field Hockey basic rules. It's a short read and, coupled with the links on the page will provide everything (and more than) you'll need to know and will answer all of the questions you may have about the game. One of the most confusing aspects of watching the game is deciphering the frequent referee whistles. Here is a link which describes referee signals ( or chart). Also, the wikipedia field hockey page provides a bit more concise synopsis of the game.

We always need photos at the games and anything related to team activities that would be fun to share with everyone. Also, for the JV games we need reports of game scores or even a short write-up about the game (or whatever you're motivated to write). We can accept information in any form: electronic images or write-ups by email to joeyogerst@gmail.com.