The Castle Park High School girls lacrosse team has high hopes this season. The Trojans got the new season underway on an upbeat note with an 11-10 double overtime non-league victory at Monte Vista High School on Monday.
“The game went back forth the entire game,” Castle Park head coach Chris Kryjewski said. “At halftime Monte Vista was leading the contest 7-6. In the second half Castle Park tied up the game with two seconds left to be 10-10 to finish regulation.”
The game continued through overtime, which features a three-minute sudden-victory period.
At the end of the first overtime the score remained tied. Castle Park (1-0) scored the game winning-goal in the second overtime period with a crease roll shot.
Celeste Preciado led the Trojans with five goals while Breana Mireles and Nani Ochoa each scored two goals. Anissa Diaz and Allison Velasco each scored one goal.
Goalkeepers Kim Zuniga and Citlalli Fernandez were strong in the pipes with 10 saves each on the night.
“The girls played at another level I haven’t truly seen in the last four years,” Kryjewski said. “They played like a family and kept chipping away. This is a very special group.
“We also could not have had this great win without the great coaching staff that is a part of the program and that includes coach Paul Cooper, coach Chris Weaver and coach Monica Arvizu. The coaching staff’s dedication to this program is amazing; without them this program wouldn’t be where it is right now and going forward to have tremendous success this season.
“We have several goals as a program this year and we will be working hard during practices to achieve those goals.”
The Trojans are scheduled to host neighborhood rival Hilltop in a non-league game on Monday, March 11, at 6 p.m.
Soaring Eagles
Olympian’s boys team is 3-0 to start the season following non-league victories against visiting Lincoln (11-1 last Friday), host Chula Vista (10-0 on Monday) and visiting Foothills Christian (8-5) on Wednesday.
Senior Robert Tagart led the Eagles with five goals in the win over Lincoln while senior Alijah Gonzalez led the defensive effort with 11 ground balls.
Freshman Renz Miranda won six of 10 face-offs for Olympian while freshman goalkeeper Andrew Leibold allowed one goal on eight shots.
Tagart scored three goals in the win over Chula Vista while senior Blake Yamamoto and sophomore Bijan Razi each scored two goals. Miranda and Yamamoto each had eight ground balls. As a team the Eagles fielded 65 ground balls.
“The Eagles are off to a solid start to the season,” Olympian coach Keith Quigley said. “With 12 seniors graduating last year I wasn’t sure what my team was going to look like for this season. We have 27 players and at least 12 of them are new to lacrosse. Definitely liking what I see so far but we also know we have a ton of work to do.”
