Falcons win Mila Field Hockey Tourney

Carmel Valley’s Falcons middle school field hockey team went undefeated at the “Play for Mila” tournament in Fallbrook recently, winning all five of their games and taking home the gold medal in the Under 14 division.

Coached by new Torrey Pines varsity head coach Gina Nawab, the Falcons comprised nine girls from Carmel Valley Middle School and one from Oak Valley Middle School in 4S Ranch. The Mila tourney is also brand new, a charity event dedicated to youth suicide prevention and named after a former Fallbrook High School field hockey player who took her own life last year.

The Falcons kicked off the day with a 1-0 win over a tough Madison Middle School from Vista. Defensive ace Farah Farjood put the Falcons up early with a rocket shot from the top of the circle, and even though the Carmel Valley girls dominated possession that would be the game’s only goal.

But they found their scoring touch in the next game, a 6-0 romp over a mixed team from several Vista middle schools including north county league champs Rancho Minerva. Forwards Shannon Yogerst and Gia Silahian scored twice each for the Falcons, with Farjood and Dani Jackel notching single goals. Five different Falcons scored in their third game – an 8-0 win over Poway Mystix – including Yogerst (3 goals), Silahian (2 goals) and Gabi Jimenez, Meaghan Donnelly and Kate Betts one each.

That set up a gold medal showdown with Fallbrook’s Potter Middle School, the only other undefeated team left in the middle school bracket at that point. But once again it was no contest. Playing their best hockey of the day, the Falcons raced to a quick 2-0 lead while the defense – lead by first-time goalkeeper Gabriela Enriquez – turned back several Potter scoring drives. In the midfield, Jimenez shut down Potter’s leading scorer. The final score was a resounding 5-1, with Yogerst knocking in four goals and Betts another.

With first place already secured, the Falcons defeated the Vista Academy of Performing Arts Flash 5-0 on a hat-trick by Jimenez and single goals by Yogerst and Silahian.

Through five games, the Falcons scored 25 goals and allowed just one. Yogerst lead all scorers with 10 goals, followed by Silahian with five and Jimenez with four. The huge goal difference is even more impressive when you consider the Falcons played three of the five games without a goalie. Kudos to defenders Farjood, Enriquez and Hana Chitgari for completely stifling the opposing attack throughout the day.