Redondo’s girls lacrosse team showed it can compete with the perennial powers from Orange County falling one goal short in the U.S. Lacrosse L.A-O.C. Championships held Saturday at Mira Costa High School.
Even though sixth-ranked Redondo (18-2) lost to top-seeded Foothill (15-3) 11-10, it was a moral victory in the eyes of Redondo head coach Tom Borgia.
“This was the closest an L.A. Champion girls team as ever come to beating the Orange County girls champ for the title and we are proud about that and how far we have come as a program since losing in 2010 and 2011,” Borgia said. “The closest game for LA vs. OC before our game against Foothill was a 19-9 loss. All other losses were by more than 14 goals. So we are getting close and Oak Park is all juniors so I’m predicting that Oak Park will win it all vs. Orange County next year.”
After winning its seventh consecutive Bay League title, the sixth-ranked Redondo’s girls captured the Northern Division championship with a dramatic 13-12 victory over third-ranked Oak Park on Wednesday pitting the Sea Hawks against Southern Division winner Foothill.
Redondo fought back from an early 8-3 deficit to Foothill to tie the score 10-10 with seven minutes remaining in the game.
“We regrouped at halftime and changed up a few things on defense and on our clears and next thing you know we are in it again.,” Borgia said “We made a few basic mistakes with poor passes that hurt us down the stretch as the girls were running on empty by the end of the game because we used only one sub in the last two games.”
The Sea Hawks controlled the ball with four minutes left and Borgia’s strategy was to retain possession to get a late shot off to win the game.
Unfortunately for Redondo, a turnover gave Foothill the ball with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. The Knight’s Carly Naud sprinted downfield and unleashed the game-winning shot spoiling the Sea Hawk’s bid for the upset and a long-awaited championship over an Orange County division winner.
“One of our parents told me before the game that it was like we were playing with “house money” vs Foothill after beating Oak Park and we had nothing to lose. But at 10-10 for six minutes I felt like we were playing with my entire retirement account.
”We had two of the most unbelievable games within three days, experiencing ‘The thrill of victory’ on Wednesday and then ‘The agony of defeat’ Saturday morning.”
Maddie Farmer, a four-year starter and two-time Bay League MVP, led Redondo with three goals. Allison Shamir and Hailey Vorndran added two goals and Alison Kobel, Beth Shallon and Allyson Tsuji each scored once for Redondo.
Palos Verdes’ boys team also reached the championship but was also denied the title. Ranked fifth in the Southern Section, Palos Verdes (17-6) was tied 8-8 with No. 3 St. Margaret’s but gave up six straight goals to lose 14-8.
