Griffins' Girls Return to O.C. Lacrosse Title Game

The Los Alamitos girls lacrosse team earned the opportunity to defend its championship crown. The Griffins, who finished off an undefeated 2010 season with a victory over Foothill in the US Lacrosse Southern Section Orange County Division 1 title game a year ago, are headed back for a third consecutive season,  courtesy of a 19-13 semifinal victory over Beckman on Saturday evening at Aliso Niguel High.

Third-seeded Beckman (18-3) burst out of the gates with three unanswered goals in the first five minutes, but second-seeded Los Alamitos (16-3) quickly caught up to speed and eventually put the brakes on the Patriots’ up-tempo attack. The Griffins' defensive effort was highlighted by a nearly nine-minute scoreless stretch early in the second half that allowed the team to gain separation from the third-seeded Patriots, who put on a show with their offensive speed.

“Every girl on our team said this was probably the toughest game they’ve ever played,” Los Alamitos coach Liz Connelly said. “It felt like it was tied up the entire game because [Beckman] was awesome.”

Connelly took on quite the challenge when she was hired in February as coach of one of Southern California’s premier programs. By inheriting a team fresh off back-to-back titles, she knew the Griffins wouldn’t take anyone by surprise during her first year on the job.

“I love having that bull's-eye on our back,” Connelly said. “I didn’t know what to expect coming in this year because Los Al has great tradition and history. But like I always tell the girls, history is history. We make our own history every day. I run tough practices all season and these girls work their butts off each time. They want this really bad, and they’ve earned it.”

Beckman senior Allie Lehner, who led the Patriots in scoring during the regular season, scored twice in the opening minutes to help her team establish a 3-0 advantage and force Connelly to use an early timeout in an effort to regroup after being outshot 6-0 to start the game.

“The pace Beckman set at the beginning was amazing,” Connelly said. “Our girls rose to the challenge. We kept fighting and we were able to come back and pull it out with hard work.”

Seniors Torrey Bailey and Melissa Hastie, who combined for nine goals on Saturday night, took turns scoring to rally the Griffins and tie the score at 3-3 with nine minutes remaining until halftime

Los Alamitos attacker Allie Conrad then capitalized on the first of her five goals to give the Griffins their first lead at 4-3. After the teams exchanged scores to push it to 5-4, Los Alamitos began to really find its rhythm, exerting its talent en route to a 9-5 lead. Beckman senior Abbie Messmer and sophomore Hanna Leonard each put back rebounds for goals in the first half’s final minute to salvage some momentum for the Patriots, who entered intermission trailing 9-7.

The Griffins opened the second half with consecutive goals that neutralized Beckman’s slight rally. Hastie, who scored two minutes into the half, executed an effortless one-timer after receiving a pass from behind the net to push Los Alamitos’ lead to 11-7 and put the pressure back on the Patriots.

Freshman Savannah Krause’s score, which cut Beckman’s deficit to 11-8, would be the Patriots’ final goal for nearly nine minutes.

Los Alamitos defensive efforts were absolutely stifling, centered on a ferociously aggressive interior that protected goalie Emily Alpaugh, who made a game-high 13 saves. Griffins defenders always seems to have at least one stick in the face of a potential Patriots playmaker. More often than not, it was a swarm rather than solo greatness stepping up for Los Alamitos.

“I think the most important thing about our defense it that there isn’t one person doing everything,” Connelly said. “Every player on the field is constantly communicating and that group effort is what makes us able to stop the area’s powerhouse attacks.”

By the time Leonard ended Beckman’s scoring drought with her third goal of the game, Los Alamitos had already built a commanding 15-8 advantage, and there was no question that the Griffins were bound for a third straight title game.

Though the teams continued to battle each other, Los Alamitos spent most of the final 15 minutes putting the finishing touches on its 19-13 victory.

The Griffins now await their opportunity for a three-peat. That arrives on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., when  Los Alamitos meets Santa Margarita (15-3) in the title game at Mission Viejo High. The fifth-ranked Eagles upset top-seeded Foothill, 12-10, in Saturday’s other semifinal.

“Santa Margarita might have the most heart I’ve seen in Orange County this year,” Connelly said. “They push the ball so well, but I think I’m going to stick to my usual game plan. We’re going to play lockdown lacrosse, and may the best team win.”

Should the Griffins prove mightier than the rest once more, they will continue their dominance in an area renowned for tremendous lacrosse.

“This is historical,” leading-scorer Torrey Bailey said. “No other team at our school has ever done this. It’s great.

US Lacrosse Southern Section Orange County Championship Schedule:

Boys Division 1 -- No. 1 Foothill vs. No. 2 St. Margaret's at Mission Viejo High, Wednesday, May 11, 7 p.m.

Girls Division 1 – No. 2 Los Alamitos vs. No. 5 Santa Margarita at Mission Viejo High, Wednesday, May 11, 4:30 p.m.

Boys Division 2 -- No. 1 Mission Viejo vs. No. 3 Dana Hills at Aliso Niguel High, Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m.

Girls Division 2 -- No. 1 Capistrano Valley vs. No. 3 St. Margaret's at Aliso Niguel High, Thursday, May 12, 5 p.m.

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