First published in the May 21 print issue of the Glendale News Press.
The Crescenta Valley High School varsity boys’ lacrosse team was edged by Vista Murrieta in double overtime, 9-8, in the CIF-SS Division III championship game at at Downey High School’s Allen Layne Stadium last Saturday.
“To get here was 100% a battle,” Falcons head coach Nik Soforenko said. “We knew we would end up here, we wanted a different outcome, but I am so proud of these guys that we got here. They fought every single minute and there is no better team, in my opinion, out there right now.”
The Falcons trailed entering the fourth quarter 7-4 but scored four goals, including a pair by senior captain Easton Caneva, in a six-minute span to take their first and only lead of the game. Both teams were held scoreless until Vista Murrieta tied the game with 23 seconds remaining to send it to sudden death overtime.
“We are a second-half team — we just ran short one goal, but that was no surprise that happened,” Soforenko said.
Senior captain Mason Daly collected a pair of goals, senior Ezra Suh scored twice and sophomore Quincy Lunt opened the scoring for CV with 10:58 remaining in the second quarter.
The Falcons concluded the campaign with a 19-3 overall record and as Gold Coast League runners-up with a 5-1 mark.
