Monte Vista takes this round from DHS girls

It was yet another chapter in what is quickly becoming a storied rivalry.

Unfortunately for the Davis High girls lacrosse team, this one went to Monte Vista.

The Blue Devils fell 13-12 to the Mustangs in a sudden death, triple-overtime game on Tuesday night at Ron & Mary Brown Stadium. MVHS won on a goal by Mari Waidelich.

The contest mirrored almost point-for-point a North Coast Section quarterfinal game between the Blue Devils (1-1) and Mustangs two years ago — only DHS captured that one 11-10 on a goal by Kylie Drexel in the third overtime period.

Last year, Monte Vista got the better of the Devils twice: 16-4 in a regular-season game and 15-12 in the section tournament.

The one constant for DHS through all the games has been the play of Drexel, now a senior. Drexel had seven points on Friday night — five goals and two assists — and teammate Sarah Bloise added a hat trick, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the absence of midfielder Ceci Cajandig (concussion) as well as a series of key miscues.

“I think we played hard (Tuesday, but) I think we made a lot of mistakes (and) turnovers,” DHS head coach Jenn Morris said afterward. “That is where we hurt ourselves the most. Other than that, I’m proud of the way they played. I think our defense played hard. They stepped up against a really strong team.”

The Blue Devils had to come from behind for much of the game.

Eventually, Drexel cut inside and scored on a pass from Kiki Tanaka to tie the game at 11-11 with 1:25 left in regulation and set the stage for first overtime. Then, after the Mustangs opened up the period with another goal, Kelly Chuck evened the score on a shot in traffic.

DHS had chances in the remainder of the period — as well as in a scoreless second extra session — but couldn’t capitalize. The Mustangs scored the game-winner on their first possession of third overtime.

“You never want to lose,” Morris said. “But they’re always a top team (and losing) in overtime to a top team early (in the season), it’s really going to prepare us for what’s coming up. We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up.”

Behind the play of Drexel and Bloise, the Blue Devils got out to a 6-3 lead with 2:58 to go in the first half. But Monte Vista surged back with four goals in the final two minutes to take a 7-6 lead into intermission.

The second half was a game of cat-and-mouse, with DHS frequently tying the game, only to see the Mustangs retake their advantage.

Notes: Chuck (two goals) and Tanaka (one goal) rounded out the Devil scoring. … The locals will have little time to dwell on the loss as they are set to travel to Berkeley on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. game. … Morris said she wasn’t sure how long Cajandig will be out.

— Reach Will Bellamy at wbellamy@davisenterprise.net