temp151

On Saturday afternoon, Culver City High School’s lacrosse squared off against a much improved Redondo team in a tightly contested playoff game at Culver High.

For loyal fans and supportive family members, watching the final three games of the regular season for the Culver City High School varsity lacrosse team was downright painful.

The style of play for Culver City High School’s lacrosse team became more physical last week as the varsity traveled to Redondo Beach and met up with a contentious and determined Seahawk squad.

Culver City High School’s arch-nemesis in lacrosse, Beverly Hills, came to town last Tuesday evening.

In years past, the Normans either have dominated the entire game or managed to take control in the fourth quarter.

There comes a time in every team’s schedule when it is tested.

The opponents are bigger, faster and stronger. Or maybe they show up with a more sophisticated offense. Sometimes that offense is complemented by an even more impressive defense, providing a lethal 1-2 punch that leaves a team searching for answers.

The Lakers have the city abuzz, “March Madness” is upon us, and the World Baseball Classic has us breaking out our Dodger blue.

In all the excitement, it’s easy to overlook the fact that lacrosse season has begun.

Downey High School’s lacrosse team came to Culver City High last Tuesday night with a simple and effective game plan: Place a talented goalie in net to ward off the Centaur attack,and then smother that offense with a swarming defense.

The strategy worked for a 9-6 Downey victory.

By double- and triple-teaming the middies and attackmen at various times in the game, Downey was able to capitalize on changes of possession and rack up an early lead (6-2 at halftime).

The Culver City High School lacrosse team, which closes the regular season with two critical home matches, tonight at 6 against Downey High and Thursday at 6 against Beverly Hills High, played a most formidable opponent last Tuesday night. The Centaurs came away with an eye-opening and humbling 14-3 loss to Palos Verdes High, which truly ruled in every aspect of the game.

Palos Verdes won most of the face-offs, was faster, bigger, stronger and more skilled in the fundamentals. They executed more intricate plays on offense, intimidated on defense and hit so hard with their stick checks that they snapped two of the Centaurs’ poles in half.

The good news on Tuesday night last week was that the Culver City High School varsity lacrosse team scored eight goals.

The bad news: They allowed Peninsula to score nine.

It sounds like a cliché, but the best offense truly is a great defense.

Lacrosse, what a great spectator sport.

Combining elements that remind fans of other better known sports, like soccer, hockey, football and even basketball, it creates an exciting, unique blend of strategy and nonstop ball movement that can keep fans on the edges of their seats.

That is what happened last Tuesday night when Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach, came to Culver City High.