PLACENTIA – It took the Corona del Mar offense 10 seconds to open the scoring in Saturday’s U.S. Lacrosse Boys Southern Section final against Loyola of Los Angeles.
CdM also led after the first period. Unfortunately, the rest of the game wasn’t as easy as that first goal and the Sea Kings didn’t have the lead again after the first period.
Loyola, the L.A.-area champion, had three players score at least two goals and goalie Joe Theur stood tall in goal to lead the Cubs (21-4) to a 10-6 victory over Corona del Mar (20-2) at Valencia High.
The Cubs become the first L.A. school to win the Southern Section title.
“They’re a good team, and we knew that coming in,” CdM coach G.W. Mix said. “They did a great job today and they were clearly the better team, there’s no doubt about that.
“What we had to do to get here on Wednesday night (defeating St. Margaret’s in the O.C. final), that was my biggest concern. We knew how hard we had to work on Wednesday night, that’s not to say they didn’t have work to do (in the L.A. final), but I don’t think they nearly had the work to do that we did and it showed. It definitely showed.”
The Cubs won the L.A. North Division title Wednesday, defeating Palos Verdes, 7-6, in overtime.
Loyola opened the second quarter with three consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead. In the third period, CdM cut the lead to 6-5 on a goal from Stephen Von der Ahe.
The Cubs responded, like the Sea Kings usually do, gaining control off the faceoff and scoring three consecutive goals, two coming from Mason O’Hanlon for a 9-5 lead with 3:42 left.
O’Hanlon was selected Offensive Player of the Game. Theur received the defensive nod.
“I think these guys have a lot of heart and they don’t take anything for granted,” Loyola coach Seth Cohen said. “They played all 48 minutes and that was a key.
“We feel good to represent Los Angeles. I think the whole area is growing, but I’m super proud of just my guys right now.”
CdM was making its second trip to the section finals. In 2012, CdM went undefeated, winning both the O.C. and section titles.
Von der Ahe led the Sea Kings with two goals.
“It has been a remarkable year. I’m very proud of them,” Mix said of his team. “It wasn’t our day, but we’ll be back.”
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
