It’s getting late in the season and thus it’s time for spring sports team to honor their collection of senior players.
The Bonita Vista boys lacrosse team held its Senior Night on Wednesday, April 23, while playing host to the Valhalla Norsemen in a non-league game. The Hilltop Lancers hosted the San Ysidro Cougars last Friday to fete its senior class.
Both teams honored 10 players.
The Barons played one of their most competitive games this season in a see-saw matchup against the Norsemen, taking a 5-4 lead in the third quarter and tying the game at 6-6 and 7-7 in the fourth quarter before eventually falling 8-7 on a goal scored with just 1:38 to play.
Hilltop built a 3-2 lead at halftime before the fledgling Cougars charged back in the second half to claim a 9-5 conference victory.
Arlez Serrano scored Hilltop’s first goal before Iker Marquez reeled off a pair of goals to push San Ysidro ahead, 2-1, on the scoreboard through the opening quarter.
Gabriel Lugo tied the game, 2-2, for the host Lancers and Kayden Manzo pulled Hilltop up 3-2 with a goal to bring the game to halftime.
Players, coaches, officials and fans had to brave an exceedingly cold wind throughout the game.
The Lancers saw their record dip to 5-13 on the season while the Cougars raised their mark to 5-9.
Bonita Vista entered the game against Valhalla with just three wins on the season. The performance against the Norsemen, ranked third among Division III teams, was the team’s best game of the season competitive-wise, according to BV head coach Sam Cardenas.
“It was a great game all around,” Cardenas said in offering praise for his team.
Both teams showed they had the desire to come out on top despite adversity. The East County visitors led, 3-2, at halftime on three goals by Trevor Logan while Damian Nunez had both goals for the hosts.
Photos by Jon Bigornia
A pair of defensive mistakes led to a dramatic turnaround on the scoreboard that pushed the Barons ahead 5-4 on the scoreboard. The Norsemen fought back to tie the game, 5-5, and then go in front 6-5 by the end of the third quarter.
The Barons tied the contest, 6-6, on a goal just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter before the Norsemen placed a shot just inside the post to slip ahead, 7-6, with 5:11 to play in regulation. BV’s Nunez scored his fourth goal of the game with 3:35 left to forge a 7-7 standoff between the teams.
That left it up to Diego Morales to net the game-winner with 1:38 to play. Morales scored the final two goals of the game for Valhalla. Logan keyed the Norsemen with four goals while Jared Dabish and Chase Lemieux each scored one goal.
Valhalla coach Isaac Merfalen called the win over Bonita Vista an upset as the Barons compete at the Division II level along with Helix.
It was also an upset on another note as the Barons were playing with 10 seniors compared to just three for the Norsemen.
“We kept fighting all night with cool heads, sticking to our game plan and trying to eliminate mistakes,” the VHS coach said.
Merfalen said his team will have to draw on the confidence gleaned from this win. The Norsemen advanced to last year’s Division III semifinals before ending their season against eventual division champion West Hills.
“We’re definitely growing,” Merfalen said. “We didn’t have the team last year to make it to the championship game, but now we have the team to win it this year.”
