Coronado (17-3) averaged beating local teams by 12.6 goals before Saturday.
player ready... To find the last time Coronado High School’s girls lacrosse team lost to a San Diego Section squad, you have to flip the calendar back to May 18, 2024.
Going into the Islanders’ Open Division championship game against La Costa Canyon on Saturday, the winning streak against locals had reached 27. Make it 28. On a cool late afternoon at Canyon Crest Academy, No. 1 Coronado was pushed by second-seeded LCC, but come crunch time, the Islanders rallied for a 12-9 win to repeat as Open champions. With 10 seconds to play in the third quarter, the teams were locked in a 9-9 tie.
But Coronado’s Avery Hunter forced a turnover near midfield, fed junior Breck Dunn and Dunn rifled the ball in the back of the net with 2.8 seconds on the clock for a 10-9 lead.
“I knew we had 10 seconds left,” said Dunn, who led Coronado with four goals. “I just caught the ball, turned around, and knew I had to go. ” Dunn and her sister Sydney, a senior, both committed to Brown, led Coronado in scoring this year, combining for 136 goals. But on Saturday, Maria Anaya and Sienna Kieffer stepped up with three goals each.
Coronado’s Siena Kieffer shoots past La Costa Canyon goalie Cambria Williams during the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls lacrosse championships May 16, 2026 in San Diego, Calif. Regarding how her team responded to being pushed, head coach Jade Cade said, “I think it shows that they can really handle pressure. In big moments, they can step up. ” Senior Alexis Felago dominated draws and scored three goals for LCC .
Last month, LCC lost to Coronado 12-6. On Saturday, they played them even for nearly 36 minutes. Pacific Ridge 10, Tri-City Christian 9:“We’ve been down before and we’ve come back,” Piper O’Shea told herself.
“So we can do it again. ” And that’s exactly what the Firebirds pulled off. No. 1-seeded Pacific Ridge scored five of the last six goals to win its first section title since 2017. Pacific Ridge midfielders O’Shea and Calista Lowery are best friends.
They scored four of the Firebirds’ final five goals, two each. Both finished with four goals. O’Shea scored the game-winner with 9:45 to play.
“They’re two of the best out there playing the game,” said Pacific Ridge coach Liza Neptune. “They have heart and soul. They’re a coach’s dream. ” While Pacific Ridge players were screaming and laughing and jumping for joy, then posing for pictures, Tri-City’s players were in tears.
A year ago, the Eagles lost the Division 3 title by two goals. There was the Firebirds’ comeback, then there was the way the game ended. With 5:58 to play Tri-City’s best player, Jordan Campaigne, was assessed a second yellow card, sidelining her for the rest of the game. With Tri-City unable to force a turnover, Pacific Ridge stalled, killing the clock for the final 7½ minutes.
“Anytime somebody is pulling an eight-minute stall, I’m trying to find the right word,” said Tri-City head coach Suzanne Campaign, “you’ve got to let the girls play. ” To prevent teams from stalling, the NCAA implemented a shot clock for women’s lacrosse in 2017. The San Diego Section does not have a shot clock for girls lacrosse.
Sisters Reese and Raquel Contreras combined for seven goals with Reese, a sophomore, scoring four as Vallley Center won its first-ever girls lacrosse title. Jasmine Morrissette also scored three goals. Second-seeded Valley Center took control early. By halftime, after scoring five straight goals, the Jaguars led 8-2.
Before the playoffs, the Jaguars’ coaching staff printed two inspirational quotes and distributed them to each player. The team gathered in a circle before games, read one quote, then kissed it. The second quote was read at halftime. The Jaguars’ favorite quote Saturday was courtesy of Michael Jordan: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships. ”
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