The Mavericks believe their back-to-back Division I titles are yesterday's news. Today's headline: “Shoot for the three-peat.”

SCOTT LINNETT / Union-Tribune La Costa Canyon's Lauren Greenwald (left) battled for control of the ball with Torrey Pines' Katie Griswold during last year's championship game.

“Three in a row, now that would be a dynasty,” said senior midfielder Lauren Greenwald, who has accepted a scholarship from Wake Forest.

Indeed it would, but the Mavericks wouldn't be the first. San Marcos won three consecutive titles from 1977 to '79, and Serra won seven straight in the '80s. However, La Costa Canyon would be the first to three-peat since the San Diego Section began conducting championships in two divisions in 2002.

With nine returning seniors, most of whom were on the varsity squad for both titles, this Mavericks team seems poised to establish itself as one of the best ever.

“I think we have a good shot at going undefeated,” said senior Laura Maffucci. “We just have to stay focused and work together as a team. We have a lot of talented JV girls that we are all getting to know.”

Along with veterans like Greenwald, Maffucci and Tara Arolla and the goalkeeping duo of Haleh Nourani and Molly Cassidy, the Mavericks lineup has been bolstered with the addition of JV players Caitlin Chamberlain (defense), Danielle Pawling (midfield) and D.D. Garth (defense/midfield). If the newcomers mesh, it will be trouble for opposing teams.

SCOTT LINNETT / Union-Tribune La Costa Canyon High's field hockey team celebrated a win over Torrey Pines High in last year's Division I Championship.

“You can have a team of all-stars, but if they don't play together and aren't a tight unit, they aren't going to get very far,” said coach Kim Elmore. “A team with great chemistry is the most important thing. That's why we have been so successful the last two years.”

That chemistry was bolstered with Elmore's return after taking a brief leave of absence to spend more time with her family. She originally resigned, against her better judgment, she said, following last year's title.

After the school was unable to find a replacement, Elmore was contacted by a parent who pleaded for her return, and the coach jumped at the chance.

Elmore said these players understand they are clear-cut favorites in Division I but are doing their best not to get too far ahead of themselves.

“All that experience is an advantage, but we aren't getting cocky,” Elmore said. “We still have to find the right mix.”

“Having won it the last two years only makes us want it more,” Greenwald said. “There are a lot of good teams out there that want to take what we have got. We want to prove we are still the best.”

Scoring on La Costa Canyon will be a chore for those other teams. Nourani and Cassidy, who share time in goal, combine to give the Mavericks arguably the best goalkeeping in the section. Maffucci is a burner on offense, and Greenwald anchors the midfield. Cassidy said that and the new crop of JV talent makes for a lethal combination.

“There is some pressure, especially for the seniors, because they want to go out on a winning note,” said Cassidy, a junior. “But we are all good at dealing with the pressure because we have been there before. Everyone is starting with a clean slate. We know that to do it again we are going to have to earn it.”

 Kevin Gemmell: (619) 718-5304; kevin.gemmell@uniontrib.com