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.
With heads slung low and hearts dejected, players and coaches must make a choice. They can continue on the road of familiarity and accept the natural pecking order of competition. Or they can regroup, reinvigorate and make the adjustments necessary to lift their game to another level.
Such is the quandary faced by the Culver City High School lacrosse team after a gut- checking week of contests.
It began last Tuesday evening when Mira Costa came to town and won by 8 goals.
The first quarter set the tone, with sloppy play by the Centaurs leading to a couple of Mira Costa goals. Culver bounced back on an unassisted goal by Oscar Lopez and a sharp pass by Conner Nannini that Jason Mair snagged and deposited into the net for a 2-2 tie.
Rival Finds an Opening
In the second, Andy Campos took a pass from Carl Smith and sneaked in a goal from just outside of the crease. It looked as if this would be a nail-biter.
But then something changed. Mira Costa spotted a weakness in the Culver City zone defense. They began exploiting it with quick crosses and cuts in front of goalie Phillip Beer. Accurate passing and missed assignments led to three goals in the second, and the Mustangs never looked back.
Culver City managed one more goal in the third period, by Matt Gima, but could not compete with the onslaught that ensued.
The Culver defense, though fatigued and confused, showed real moments of fortitude.
Long stick midfielder Casey Garland determined to gain control of a loose ball and get the offense back on track, laid a shoulder into an opposing player and “felt something pop.” Not to be deterred by what he thought was a dislocation, he hit another player and his arm went numb. His night ended with a severely broken clavicle and the Centaurs’ ended with a 12-4 loss.
Thursday night, the Culver lacresse team traveled to the West Hills area to compete against Chaminade. This reporter was not able to attend, but did receive reports.
A Closer Outcome
Overall impressions were that a hesitancy to crash the net and shoot limited the Culver scoring chances.
On transition, several clearing passes were picked off leading to Chaminade rushes, and the Centaurs fell, 10-7.
The real heartbreak this past week occurred on Friday night when Culver City hosted Malibu.
Alek Fabijanek brought the crowd to their feet with an early goal for the Centaurs. The excitement quickly switched to the Malibu faithful as the Sharks went on the attack, culminating in a 5-goal frenzy.
Three goals in the second by Culver High’s Andy Campos, Conner Nannini, and Jason (Scrappy) Mair made it a contest once again. Malibu led 6-4 at halftime.
Austin Dupuy got things started in the third for Culver, but Malibu answered with two of its own before the Culver attackmen lit a fire.
Jason Mair scored three straight, book- ended by Andy Campos’ two goals.
After three quarters, the Centaurs led 10-8.
Before the start of the fourth quarter, a referee pulled out a tape measure and determined that the width of the top portion of the head on Mr. Campos’ stick did not comply with regulations. He subsequently disallowed his last goal and hit the team with a 3-minute penalty. Rather than rising up to the challenge of playing a man down, the Culver team seemed to fall back on its heels.
Soon, Malibu was back swarming the net. With each Malibu goal, more fatigue set in. Oddly, substitutions became few and far between and the Centaurs ran out of gas. The defense responded to each attack with a full retreat.
When time was of the essence, Culver returned to its comfort zones, helping Malibu burn minutes.
Malibu won a 13-11 heartbreaker.
The Centaurs are at home this week, Tuesday against Beverly Hills and Thursday against Oak Park.
It will be interesting to see how they respond.
