The Clarion 2019 - Lacrosse

The Clarion 2019

Boys' Lacrosse Crush Valhalla

Amaya Esparza, Sports Editor

The Granite Hills Boys’ Lacrosse team defeated Valhalla with a score of 13-1 in their last home game of the season on May 2. The Eagles’ offense was merciless with their attacks, while the defense was a force to be reckoned with.

In the first quarter, the Eagles were quick to rack up some points and gain a lead. Danny Kier (19) was the first person to score a goal and Jonas Holmes (21), assisted by Justin Marshall (19), was hasty to do the same. Kier, assisted by Holmes, scored another goal. Cooper Wygant (21) stole the ball and swiftly scored a goal. Holmes was able to score again with an assist from Wygant. With Justin Marshall (19) and Ethan Bailey (19) each scoring, ending the quarter, Granite Hills lead 6-0 over Valhalla.

The Eagles scored first again by Kyle Weaklem (19) in the second quarter. Jayten Vanlandingham (20) scored back to back. Dalton Ryder (19) scored, soon followed by Weaklem scoring a goal of his own. The quarter ended with the Eagles still in the lead 12-0.

During the third quarter, Valhalla managed to keep Granite Hills from scoring for most of the time. Marshall managed to score a goal at the end of the quarter to make the score 13-0.

As the final quarter came around, it was much like the third. The two teams defensively held each other from scoring until the Norsemen made a goal. Valhalla tried to score again, but Dallas Leves (21) had a nice save and the game ended soon after.

“I think as a team we did really well. A lot of the guys worked on their sole missions that they had to come out here to fix,” Ryder said. “We went out and played as a collective unit. It was great to see some of the younger guys getting out there and playing at the high level, too, so it was a great night.”

The team’s overall record has been 12 wins and 6 losses, and they went 9-2 in league. “We’ve been doing pretty good this season, better than last season,” Leves said. “I think all around we’ll do good in playoffs.”

The Eagles had a great night taking the win at their last home game of the season before playoffs.

Girls' Lacrosse

Laura Sanchez, Staff Writer

On Wednesday, May 1, Granite Hills Girls Varsity Lacrosse won against Santana with the final score of 21-4. Since written, Granite Hills also won against Valhalla 20-1 on May 7 giving them the title of undefeated league champions.

I am on the team myself, but due to a back injury, I have been unable to participate on the field. I still attend three-hour practices and games to support my team. Being an athlete, injuries are prone to happen. It is just more unfortunate when it is for a lengthy time, especially during the season. You’re always there but sometimes it is hard to relate to the team talks and to the situations that occur on the field.

Fellow teammate Morgan Newkirk (22) has currently been forced to hinder her athletic participation for the past couple of weeks due to a knee injury. She is an asset to the team and is believed to be needed more for playoffs so to conserve herself from the further implication of injury she has been benched.

At the very start of the game, center Mikaylee Drugg (19) obtained possession from the draw. Within the first three minutes of the game, Becky Hartnett (19) managed to get shooting space and score the first goal, putting Granite Hills in the lead. A minute barely passed on the scoreboard when Hartnett scored yet another goal.

Key players from the 2019 season Mikenna Ruffino (21), Jillian Muns (21) and Caley Cash (19) had managed to aid Granite Hills on racking up the 13-0 lead by the first half, which left Santana aching to even get a number on the scoreboard.

Drugg started off the second half doing the draw, which led to Granite Hills’ possession once again. The frustration on the Santana side led to #3 making a disrespectful remark to Granite Hills’s coach saying, “Nice placement coach.” This comment caused tension among both sides leading to a time out in which coaches from both teams met with the referees.

After around five minutes passed on the scoreboard, Santana finally managed to score one goal. Even though by the end of the game Santana managed to score four times, Granite Hills’ defense kept the Santana offense on their toes with their communication and skills. Having a shaky start to the season, Granite Hills has really focused on defensive based drills because it isn’t just on one, it takes every player and position to make a team excel.

Ruffino managed to score the last goal of the game leaving the score at 21-4. Even though the game ended with Santana in possession of the ball, they never managed to get past the Granite Hills defense again.

As the lacrosse season is coming to an end, head coach, Jose Soto, reflected on this season as, “a roller-coaster… our record doesn’t signify that but we’re not based on wins or losses”. Even though the team this year has been undefeated in league, he based the wins and losses on the attitudes towards the game, not the numbers. He had divulged that on this day his team played like a team and that it was a good reflection.

In looking forward to the playoffs, Sammie Shaffer (19) has her eyes on, “them rings baby.” Winning CIF is on the minds of both the players and the coaches, and the vibe on the team is this year we could go all the way. Granite Hills’ Girls Lacrosse is known to make it through the season until the quarterfinals of playoffs, but due to the bond, the hunger, and the skill from the team the playoffs are looking bright for the team.

Click here to go back to the Web Edition page, or here to go back to the home page.

Google Sites

Report abuse