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.
This, however, is not years past, and Culver City looks to be a different and evolving team.
Alek Fabijanek led the Culver charge with 3 goals and 1 assist. John Madden, Andy Campos and Jason Mair added to the fun, and by early in the third quarter, Culver City had established what seemed to be a substantial 6-1 lead.
In lacrosse, though, a lead, no matter how wide, can be tenuous. That slippery, intangible thing known as momentum suddenly can shift. Before you know it, a team in disarray gains confidence.
Beverly saw an opening and began a run. With each goal, their play improved. By the opening minutes of the fourth, the score was tied at 6 with everything going the Normans’ way.
Senior Conner Nannini had seen enough. Barreling in from the midfield line, he crashed the box and scored unassisted to give Culver the lead. But the Normans came back.
Austin Dupuy, assisted by Carl Smith, answered for the Centaurs. But Beverly scored again.
Late, Tense and Close
With only a couple of minutes remaining, the score was 8-8. Winning the face-off, the Normans went on offense. The Culver defense was up to the task. Despite scoring chances, Beverly was unable to find the net.
Ah yes, overtime.
Both teams’ fans, side by side in the bleachers. tried to out-cheer the other and inspire their own.
With the aid of a large, boisterous student section, the Culver City fans prevailed. Oscar Lopez won the all important face-off ,and Culver entered the offensive zone. Seeing an opening, Scrappy Mair wound in front of the goal. Despite having a clear shot, he unselfishly passed to Andy Campos who fired from just outside the left crease for the sudden-death 9-8 Culver win.
As if those theatrics were not exciting enough, Oak Park arrived in Culver City last Thursday evening and engaged in an equally dramatic contest.
It started innocently enough, Oak Park scoring quickly only to be answered by Culver’s Matt Gima. Suddenly, Culver lost focus, along with the ball, and the Eagles were soaring.
The Centaurs managed only one goal in each of the second and third quarters — by Jason Mair and Andy Campos — while the relentless Eagle rush resulted in a 10-3 lead for Oak Park.
Time for a Rally
Again, Conner Nannini, sensing that this one was slipping away, carried the ball the length of the field. He swept across the box and fired unassisted into the net. Then he ran to the sideline and slapped helmets to wake up his delirious teammates.
The fourth quarter was on, and so was the Centaur attack. With renewed vigor the middies and attackmen limited their passing and fired, at will, toward the net.
Shot upon shot found its mark. With just a few minutes left. Culver City had tied the score 10-10.
Oak Park still had some fight left, though, scoring to regain the lead.
But Nannini struck again for Culver, and with about one minute to play, it was 11-11.
When it counted most, Oscar Lopez won the face-off, and the Centaurs set up their final play with crisp passing and great movement.
With nine seconds remaining, Austin Dupuy, who wears No. 9, launched a shot from the right point that whistled inside the left upright to make Culver a 12-11 winner.
He scored four goals in the fourth quarter and had three assists in the game.
The win was the biggest comeback in varsity history for the Centaurs, and it truly was a team effort.
Along with his opening goal Matt Gima had 3 assists. Other contributors included: Jason Mair (2 goals, 1 assist), Carl Smith (1 goal, 1 assist), Andy Campos (1 goal, 1 assist) and Alek Fabijanek (1 goal).
