Mission Bay girls lacrosse dramatically ended its successful season last Wednesday with a 7-6 loss to Olympian in the CIF San Diego Section semifinals. The Bucs went undefeated in league play (10-0) finishing in first along with going 16-3 overall.

“We’ll take this experience and use it positively. It’s a tough loss being in the lead most of the game and ending the way it did, but that’s playoffs,” said head coach Hayley Burke. “It’s more intense, fast-paced, and emotional. That said, I’m beyond proud of this team. Reaching the semifinals for the first time in program history is a big step forward, and it reflects the hard work and progress we’ve made this season.”

Mission Bay went undefeated over its last 11 regular season matches outscoring its opponents by 161-41 including a 14-0 shutout over Lincoln on May 15 and a 17-2 blowout victory over Morse on May 24. Despite the playoff loss, the season was an improvement from last year when Mission Bay ended 12-6 while also going undefeated in league play (7-0).

“This season was something special. To go 16-3, win the league championship, and make it to the semifinals for the first time says a lot about this team’s dedication and character,” Burke added.

Among the standout performers was senior captain Dailigh Kirsch, who showed growth, passion, and great leadership on the offensive side. Also, goalie Sorelle Muto, who had two shutouts and stepped up throughout the season in the most important games, which created a ripple effect for her teammates.

“They showed up ready to work, support each other, and push to be better,” Burke added. “I’m proud of what we accomplished and even more proud of how we did it with heart, focus, and having fun. It’s a season I’ll remember for a long time.”

The Bucs scored in double digits 16 times this season including in the opener versus Point Loma, which the team fell by 16-10. Mission Bay used that defeat to win 16 of its following 17 matches with the only other loss coming to El Capitan on March 20.