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Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SAN CLEMENTE – Foothill’s boys lacrosse players took the field Saturday afternoon for the U.S. Lacrosse Division 1 South semifinals against San Clemente with one clear goal in mind.

“We want to get the five-peat and we want to work every day toward it,” said Foothill senior Josh Peterman. “We want to keep the tradition going, so we work twice as hard.”

Peterman and his teammates will get that chance: to lead Foothill to its fifth straight county and Southern California crowns.

The top-seeded Knights broke open a close match in the third quarter to defeat No. 4 San Clemente, 12-6, in the first semifinal of the U.S. Lacrosse Division 1 playoffs.

Foothill advances into Wednesday’s Division 1 South finals against the St. Margaret’s at Mission Viejo at 7 p.m.

Peterman scored three goals and teammate Eric Adamson scored four goals for Foothill (16-4), which led, 6-3, at halftime before breaking the match open in the third quarter.

The Knights outscored San Clemente, 5-1, in the third quarter.

“We got a man up at the end of the half that helped us get some momentum,” Foothill Coach Jon Fox said. “It helped us settle down a little. We had a lot of calls going the other way early and that affected the momentum a little.”

Foothill got solid play from Zack Handy on the faceoffs.

“I thought Handy was exceptional on the faceoffs,” Fox said. “For Zack to control the game in the middle was just huge.”

It was the first time that San Clemente (13-5) had advanced to the semifinal round.

In the early going, the Tritons gave the Knights all they could handle.

Peyton Garrett put the Tritons ahead, 1-0, with a goal with 8:36 left in the opening quarter. But Cameron Cole and Peterman scored goals to put Foothill ahead, 2-1, at the end of the first quarter.

Foothill then took charge in the second quarter.

“We were losing 6-3 without playing very well,” San Clemente coach Glen Miles said. “Not to take any credit away from them, but I thought we had a good shot in the second half. It just didn’t quite happen.

“They’re very tough to come back on. They’re good defenders and they have a good goalie and good faceoff guys. I think Handy was a big part of the game today. We got the best of him last time and we got the best of him last time.”

Chris Kazimi and Bennett Jonas scored goal goals each for San Clemente. Goalie Ian Jameson had 10 saves.

Foothill played without starter and captain, junior attackman Brad Bochesa, who was injured in a freak accident at his home this week, Fox said.

“That affected us a lot,” Fox said. “Everything had to change but he was involved in every play.”

Bochesa was playing around with his dog in the backyard and ran through a plate glass door, Fox said.

“He had eight inches of glass removed from his legs,” Fox said.

The operation went well Friday, but Bochesa will be out of action for about three months, Fox said.

The Knights will be thinking of him as they head into the finals, Peterman said.

“It affected us a lot. Having a lefty attack come out is a big spot to fill. He’s one of our top scorers,” Peterman said. “It’s always going to be hard to (replace) him but we filled him fine today, everybody stepped in and played their best. But we’re still praying for him and hope he gets better.”