DIVISION II GIRLS’ PLAYOFFS : Torrey Pines Sprints Past Grossmont

Never mind the fact that a section championship was at stake in this game. It was probably the worst time for Grossmont to face Torrey Pines in a girls’ soccer rematch.

Last December, the Foothillers surprised the defending section champion Falcons in a non-league game. But this is March. Torrey Pines doesn’t lose many games in March. And Thursday, in front of 1,500 at the University of San Diego, the Falcons got even.

Top-seeded Torrey Pines beat third-seeded Grossmont, 3-1, to capture the Division II championship and win its fourth consecutive section title (including a tie with Poway in 1989). All the goals were scored in a furious second half in which the Falcons (21-2-2) seemed to tire the Foothillers (19-3-4) with their speed.

The Falcons have reached the final in eight of the past 10 seasons. Torrey Pines is 7-0-1 in the championship game.

“We’ve had some good players,” said Dennis Costello, who has coached the past four champions. “It’s kind of a hard job when you don’t have good players.”

Senior midfielder Anaika Dayton and senior forward Melissa Wilson each had a goal and an assist to spark the Falcons.

Ten minutes into the half, Dayton scored on a deflection of Wilson’s corner kick to make it 1-0. Grossmont’s Ashley Wilkes flicked in a header off Allyson Heinrichs’ corner kick to tie it 10 minutes later. But then Wilson knocked in a perfect crossing pass from Christy Peters to make it 2-1, and 5:25 later Layla Nassiroghli blasted one in point-blank on a fast break.