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.
The Centaur defense had strong moments, but they were few and far between. Lapses occurred when they were caught flatfooted, seemingly mesmerized by Peninsula’s passing game. Too many sustained minutes in the defensive zone led to fatigue, resulting in easy sneak-around goals and fast break opportunities.
The 9-8 loss by no means rests on the defenders’ shoulders. This was a total team effort.
Everybody Contributed
In transition and clearing, the middies were nowhere to be found, leaving goalie Phillip Beer with few passing options. When they did receive the ball, quite often they were stripped of it by Peninsula’s crafty defenders. Attack made their share of mistakes as well. Rather than passing off when double teamed, they would force the issue, losing footing or just plain dropping the ball, handing possession to their opponents.
Despite the deficiencies, Culver fought its way back into the game with a well-balanced attack and goals by Austin Dupuy (3), Jameson Bartlett, Andy Campos, John Madden, Daniel Alvarez and Jason Mair.
Carl Smith tried desperately to tie the game and send it into overtime. But his shot from outside the box was snared by the goalie with 10 seconds remaining, preserving the slender win for Peninsula.
