Santa Margarita Eagles Lacrosse

Womens Varsity outlasts Mater Dei, 11-9

On Saturday, March 28 the Varsity Girls had a nail biting win over Mater Dei with a final score of 11 – 9. With a first half score of 5 - 5, anything could happen. Fortunately, the Eagles dominated the second half. Senior Midfielder, Cassie Mazolewski powered through to make 6 goals. Julia Wisch scored 2 goals. Caitlin Viar scored 1 goal and had 1 assist. Maddie Holloway and Ashley Wilson each scored a goal and Brianne Richards had 1 assist Goalie Lindsey Garn saved 5 goals in the first half and 6 in the second half for a total of 11 saves.

Congratulations Eagles!
7 wins 3 losses.

JV Girls Get 3 Wins In Week 2

The JV Girls improved their overall record to 4-2 with wins over Mater Dei, Peninsula (Palos Verdes) and Foothill making it through a tough stretch of the schedule with four games in four days.

On Wednesday, the Eagles started the week off by downing Mater Dei 9-4 despite losing the majority of the draws and ground balls. Freshman Hayley Ritterhern led the second half barrage of Santa Margarita goals by netting five herself helping to break open a tight 3-2 Eagle halftime lead.

On Thursday, the girls traveled up the coast to Palos Verdes to face Peninsula High School. The Panthers were no match for Santa Margarita as the Eagles dominated the entire game that ended 8-1 victory.

The Saturday double header with perennial LAX powerhouseFoothill proved to be the biggest test for the fast improving SM squad with Foothill bringing two complete JV teams to play our girls in back to back games. They decided to pit their JV “B” team against us in the Game 1 matchup and it proved to be a thriller when Ashley Almquist and Adrienne Anderson led the way with early goals to help give Santa Margarita a 5-3 halftime lead. Foothill started off the second half with a renewed sense of defense and scoring. They scored two goals to tie the game at the 12:00 mark. Santa Margarita then went on a 4-0 run to make the final score 9-5. Lauren Meech, Carlie McNiff, Liz Watson also scored with Almquist and Andersonnetting two goals each.

In game 2, Santa Margarita’s legs finally gave out in an 11-4 loss to Foothill’s JV A team. The highlights from this contest were Rylee Josipovich’s dramatic save after save finishing with 12 for the game.

By Dean Soll

Santa Margarita Eagles ride the wave over Chadwick Dolphins

The Lady Eagles Varsity Lacrosse Team traveled to take on the Chadwick Dolphins on their field in Palos Verdes on St Patrick’s Day. While the fans in the stands donned green, the field was a sea of blue as both teams wore their colors and met to take the opening draw at 4:00 pm.

Senior Captain Cassie Mazolewski, Center, set the tone by taking that draw to the goal and putting her team on the board after just seconds in the game. The Eagles skillfully handled the ball and scored again in the next minute with Sophomore Brianne Richards, Attack, finding Junior Caitlin Viar, Attack, to win a one-on-one with the Dolphins goalie at point blank range. The Dolphins answered with a goal, and then Richards found Sophomore Hope Blain, Midfielder, who took it to the goal getting her first on the season. Then the Chadwick team got a two point run with one goal coming from a penalty shot off an Eagles’ shooting space violation. Mazolewski was then given an advantage by Chadwick’s center, who was called for illegal procedure on the draw, and the Eagles’ captain took that advantage straight to the goal.

Three minutes later Sophomore Middie Madelin Williams scored unassisted on a wraparound shot. The Dolphins answered forcing a turnover and putting one more on the scoreboard for their team. But the Chadwick scoring success would stop there as Mazolewski showcased her breakaway skills earning a “hat trick” with 6:45 left to play in the half. Less than two minutes later, Senior Ashley Wilson, Attack, scored her first goal of the season on an assist from Mazolewski. And just twenty seconds before the half, Blain found the back of the net again off a penalty shot taking the Eagles up eight to four at half-time.

The Lady Eagles completely dominated the second half showcasing the depth on their roster. After the break, it was Blain again running and gunning to the goal off the first draw and earning the second “hat trick” for the Eagles in the game. Then, Junior Midfielder Erica Henson forced a turnover and put her first goal of the game in the books, and Richards books a goal off an assist from Junior Midfielder Julia Wisch.

The Dolphins continued to play aggressively winning ground balls and holding the Eagles for the next six minutes of play, but midway through the half both Viar and Williams took the ball to the goal unassisted, posting their second goals of the game each less than two minutes apart. Chadwick never gave up and worked hard to get six shots off during the half with no success against the Eagles defense.

But it was the Eagles offense that added insult to injury, scoring three more in the last two minutes of the game. Williams earned her first “hat trick”, Mazolewski booked another goal and another assist, and Senior Sarah Gould, Attack, posted her first goal of the season off a penalty shot with just 45 seconds left in the game. Sophomore Goalie Lindsey Garn earned 11 saves and booked the win for Santa Margarita with a 16 to 4 final score.

The Lady Eagles are back in action on Thursday, March 19th at Peninsula High School in Palos Verdes.

by Toni Garn

Alumni News: Brendan Finneran

Eagles Alumni Coach Brendan Finneran coaching the Inaugural Mens JV CIF team in 2007.

Alumni Brendan Finneran was recently featured in the March 2009 issue of Lacrosse Magazine. The article called "Siena D Man Beats Cancer" follows:

Sophomore defenseman Brendan Finneran may not scoop one ground ball this season. But he is still the most courageous player on Siena's roster.

After a three-year battle against Bone Cancer, Finneran is once again practicing with the Saints. Part of the bone in his right leg has been removed due to a tumor and replaced with Titanium.

"We've told him to simply 'do what he can do'" said head coach Brian Brecht. "It's a heck of an accomplishment"

The article can be viewed here.

Keep up the Great Work Brendan, your an inspiration to us all!

The Lady Eagles Varsity Lacrosse soars over the Great Oaks Wolf Pack on Friday night in Temecula!

Santa Margarita’s Varsity Women’s Lacrosse team played its first away game of the regular season and booked a win. While the Lady Eagles possessed the ball for the first several minutes of the game, the Wolf Pack scored the first goal at almost eight minutes into the first half off a penalty shot from a 3 second violation on the Lady Eagles.

In response to the Wolf Pack goal, Eagle defender, Junior Lauren Giudice, put her team on the scoreboard running “coast to coast” with the ball to score off a turnover. Then, the Lady Eagles attacked with Junior Wing Caitlin Viar scoring two quick goals in the next minute of the game. Junior Wing Julia Wisch was credited with an assist. The Wolf Pack answered earning a goal with ten minutes left before the half, and Viar again responded scoring after scooping a ground ball to take her team into half time up four to two.

After the half, the Lady Eagles showcased their “run and gun” skill with Freshman Wing Andi Elwell winning the ball off the draw and taking it to the goal just 23 seconds into the second half. The Great Oaks team responded earning a goal a minute later. Through the next ten minutes of play the Lady Eagles and the Wolf Pack traded three more goals each. Eagles players, Junior Erica Henson, Sophomore Brianne Richards, and Freshman Andi Elwell, all booked goals, and Wisch was credited with another assist bringing the score to eight to six Eagles with just over ten minutes left to play.

That’s when Great Oaks Wolf Pack defense began to break down allowing the Santa Margarita Ladies to penetrate and go one on one with the goalie. Viar scored “top shelf” on a wrap around shot with five minutes left. Senior Captain Cassie Mazolewski forced a turnover off and scored with four minutes left. Richards booked another wraparound goal with three minutes left, and Mazolewski added insult to injury converting a penalty shot with nearly two minutes left. While the Wolf Pack had several shots on goal in the last ten minutes of the game, Sophomore Goalie Lindsey Garn shut them out, booking a twelve to six win for the Santa Margarita Lady Eagles Varsity Lacrosse team.

The Eagles will be in action again at their next away game on St Patrick’s Day at Chadwick High School. Go Lady O’Eagles!!

By Toni Garn

Womens Varsity Wins Bracket Championship at Rosebowl Jamboree

Womens Varsity poses with Blue Bracket Championship Trophy

Congratulations to the Womens Varsity team for recording 3 victories at the Rose Bowl Jamboree Tournament on Saturday, March 7. They defeated Chadwick 8-1, Hollywood 8-2, and local rival Laguna Hills 10-6 in the Blue Bracket Championship Game.

Click Here to View Game Pictures taken by Brent Wisch in our Eagles Lacrosse Gallery.

Photos taken by Brent Wisch

Lacrosse Program at SMCHS Grows

The upcoming 2009 lacrosse season will be an exciting one as we continue to grow and mature lacrosse as a sport at SMCHS.

We have come a long way from a club team of 32 boys four years ago to a five-team CIF program with 145 student athletes involved. We have three boys’ teams and two girls’ teams this year all competing in the competitive Trinity League. Lacrosse continues to be the fastest growing high school and college sport in the U.S. with California now being rank # 7 among states in participation. Orange County, CA has the distinction of being the fastest growing area in the country.

This year the boys’ teams are led by Chris Driggs, a former Virginia and MLL standout whose life is dedicated to lacrosse. We’re very fortunate to have a coach that has the passion and drive to make the boys program one the most competitive programs in CIF. Through Chris’s connections in the lacrosse community, we’ve been able to hire some of the most talented and experienced coaches of any program out there today. Andreas Gaynor, a former Virginia player, will lead the Boys JV Gold Team and Alex Wilkinson will lead the Boys JV Blue Team. Cal Smith – All American from Adelphi and also a member of the Six Nations Chiefs Lacrosse Team and Iroquois National team that participates in the world games, is also coaching. Also helping this year is former SMCHS Laxmen and current player at Cal State Fullerton– JR Grubert.

The girls program continues to be led by Jen and Michelle Van Alstine. The “twins” come from a background of Northern California lacrosse, where they learned the game at very young age. They moved down to SoCal during their high school years and have since started up the girls lacrosse programs at Trabuco High School, Cal State Fullerton and here at SM. They have also been instrumental in the growth of girls lacrosse at the youth level here in Orange County.

As lacrosse continues to grow and expand it is important to “Honor the Game” which means remembering the history of the game, providing all of our players a positive – character building experience. We strive to win, but we’ll do it with class and dignity. Lacrosse is the oldest sport played in North America, the first games were game in the 1600’s.

History
With a history that spans centuries, lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong, virile men. To Native Americans, lacrosse is still referred to as "The Creator's Game."

Ironically, lacrosse also served as a preparation for war. Legend tells of as many as 1,000 players per side, from the same or different tribes, who took turns engaging in a violent contest. Contestants played on a field from one to 15 miles in length, and games sometimes lasted for days. Some tribes used a single pole, tree or rock for a goal, while other tribes had two goalposts through which the ball had to pass. Balls were made out of wood, deerskin, baked clay or stone.

The evolution of the Native American game into modern lacrosse began in 1636 when Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary, documented a Huron contest in what is now southeast Ontario, Canada. At that time, some type of lacrosse was played by at least 48 Native American tribes scattered throughout what is now southern Canada and all parts of the United States. French pioneers began playing the game avidly in the 1800s. Canadian dentist W. George Beers standardized the game in 1867 with the adoption of set field dimensions, limits to the number of players per team and other basic rules.

New York University fielded the nation's first college team in 1877, and Philips Academy, Andover (Massachusetts), Philips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) and the Lawrenceville School (New Jersey) were the nation's first high school teams in 1882. There are 400 college and 1,200 high school men's lacrosse teams from coast to coast.

The first women's lacrosse game was played in 1890 at the St. Leonard's School in Scotland. Although an attempt was made to start women's lacrosse at Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1914, it was not until 1926 that Miss Rosabelle Sinclair established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland.

“The greatest reward of being part of the lacrosse family is meeting all the great players and parents we have. We couldn’t have a successful and fun season without all the dedication of the many volunteers that are needed to make the season a positive experience – so a big thank you goes out to all of the coaches, Booster Club members, Athletic Department and Admin support.” Dan Perry – Director of Lacrosse.

Please come out and be a part of the lacrosse experience by cheering on your fellow students.

Women's Captains Released

Congradulations to the following Women's Captains!

Women's Varsity:
Kelsey Jerzieski
Madelin Williams
Cassie Mazolewski

Women's Junior Varsity:
Madelin Waters
Rylee Josipovich
Karina Gonzalez

Thank You,

Michelle and Jen Van Alstine
Eagles Lacrosse Women's Co-Head Coaches

Jack Cranston named in Elite 25 by West Side Lax

Congratulations to Senior Jack Cranston who has been selected to the West Side Lax Individual Elite 25. This is a huge honor, congratulations Jack!

About the Elite 25 Selection Process: The Elite 25 has been selected by an independent committee of respected lacrosse figures throughout the community. Selections of the senior, junior and sophomore classes were made based on evaluations from committee members that were conducted during several Western-based lacrosse events.

West Side Lax Individual Elite 25 Article: Click here

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