Four Monterey Peninsula programs hold spots in the Monterey Herald's top five field hockey rankings, published Monday, Oct. 19.
Stevenson sits at No. 1. Carmel is No. 2. Monterey checks in at No. 4, and Santa Catalina rounds out the list at No. 5. Hollister, at No. 3, is the only non-Peninsula program in the top tier. Herald staff writer John Devine, who compiles the rankings, listed Salinas and Greenfield on the bubble.
Stevenson's numbers back up the top ranking. The Pirates carried a 13-4-2 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in the Pacific Coast Athletic League's (PCAL) Gabilan division as of MaxPreps' most recent update on Oct. 13. The Pebble Beach school had scored 100 goals while allowing just 17. Stevenson's league wins include an 11-0 result against Monterey on Sept. 2, a 12-0 win over the Toreadores on Oct. 5 and a 9-0 victory against Carmel on Sept. 29.
Carmel, ranked second, stood at 6-8-2 overall and 5-2-1 in league play as of Oct. 13, according to MaxPreps. The Padres had scored 20 goals and allowed 35. Their league record includes a 9-0 loss to top-ranked Stevenson on Sept. 29.
Monterey held a 4-4 overall record and a 4-4 league mark, per MaxPreps. The Toreadores scored 10 goals and gave up 36 through eight games. Three of Monterey's four wins came in overtime: 2-1 results against Salinas on Sept. 9 and Oct. 13, and a 3-2 win at Greenfield on Sept. 15.
Santa Catalina sits at No. 5 despite an 0-7 league record with zero goals scored and 25 allowed as of Oct. 14, according to MaxPreps. The Herald does not publish its rankings methodology alongside the list, so it is unclear what factors placed the Cougars above bubble teams Salinas and Greenfield.
The regular season is winding down. Stevenson hosts Greenfield on Tuesday, Oct. 20, then plays Valley Christian on Thursday, Oct. 22, before a league showdown at Carmel on Thursday, Oct. 29. Carmel hosts Salinas on Wednesday, Oct. 21, visits Greenfield on Thursday, Oct. 22, and then welcomes Stevenson for that Oct. 29 matchup. Monterey travels to Hollister on Thursday, Oct. 22. Santa Catalina closes league play against Salinas on Thursday, Oct. 29.
