Playing in his first full game of the season, Dakota Randall sparked the Mira Costa boys lacrosse team scoring five goals in the Mustang’s 18-11 home victory over Bay League rival Palos Verdes in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Division 1 North Division championships Tuesday.
Chris O’Brien led the Mustang attack with seven goals. Tom Farrell and Austin Haldell added two goals each and Clay Russert and Alec Weaver scored one goal apiece.
Mira Costa (17-3) will face the Foothill-St. Margaret’s winner of Wednesday’s South (Orange County) Division championship in the Southern Section championship on Saturday at a time yet to be determined. Redondo will host all four boys and girls Division 1 and 2 Southern Section championship matches.
Mira Costa is No. 5 in the LAX Power Southern Section rankings while Foothill and St. Margaret’s are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Mira Costa reached the North title game by defeating No. 5 Agoura 19-7 Saturday behind Clay Russert’s five-goal performance. Marcus Egeck and Chris O’Brien scored three goals apiece and goalkeeper Jon Mayfield recorded eight saves.
In girls competition, top-seeded Redondo (20-2) held off No. 2 Cate for a 11-10 road victory in the North Division championship game Tuesday.
With three minutes remaining, Julia Denney scored her fifth goal – and the game winner – to propel the Sea Hawks into the Southern Section championship where they will face South Division champion Los Alamitos at 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
Micayla Kotzbach scored two goals and Bailey Czech, Allison Field, Allison Kotzbach and Ariel Mistuloff added one goal apiece while Heather Czech recorded 11 saves for the Sea Hawks.
A South Division champion has yet to lose to a North Division champion in a title game. Los Alamitos is ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section and No. 4 in the state. Although Redondo is the top ranked North Division team, it is ranked No. 12 in the Southern Section and No. 36 in the state.
Redondo advanced to the North Division championship game by defeating Palisades Charter 15-11 in the semifinals on Saturday. Goalkeeper Heather Czech had a busy day making 13 saves to keep the Sea Hawks in the game. Baily Czech, Denney and Brittany Ross scored three goals apiece in the victory. ER
