MHS Lacrosse Loses First Game

The  boys varsity lacrosse team suffered its first setback of the season Friday with a 13-7 loss to a tough and physical Westlake squad.

The Sharks (2-1) started out controlling the ball well in the early parts of the first quarter, trying to figure out the Warriors' zone. After a few good possessions by Malibu, Westlake began forcing turnovers and jumped out to a 3-0 lead.  

Sean Ryan and Riley Smoller scored early to put Malibu on the scoreboard, but Westlake was able to maintain the lead throughout the game, controlling possession of the ball and using the Warriors' superior depth to their advantage.  

Malibu made a nice run of three straight goals in the fourth quarter, pulling the score to 10-6. However, fatigue eventually caught up with Sharks, and Westlake owned most of the ground balls and controlled possession for the rest of the quarter.

Ryan played his usual strong game at midfield and attack, leading the way with four goals. Smoller ended up with two and Patrick Wetton contributed a nice "post up" goal. On defense, Daniel Levin did a great job filling in for the injured Elliott Quartz, starting at close defense after having only practiced a few days all season due to an ankle injury. Lucas Terranova, also just back from an injury, did a nice job on the second midfield. Young midfielders Kerns Churchill, Harrison Smart and Amir Mahmoud also played well.

The junior varsity squad once again played to the final whistle in a loss to Westlake. Ricky Alba had 17 saves, stopping numerous point blank shots. The team's best effort came in the fourth quarter, when attackmen Noah Gorelick and Winston Churchill did a good job of finding the open man and getting good shots. Jason Nikora played well as a short stick middie, and Nolan Webster was his usual hustling self in between the lines.

The Sharks play again Monday at home against Viewpoint. The game will begin at 4 p.m.

Steven O'Neill is the head coach of the Malibu High lacrosse program.