Foothill reclaims top spot in O.C.

Foothill players celebrate after beating JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill players celebrate after beating JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill players pose for a group photo after beating JSerra in the South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill players pose for a group photo after beating JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Austin Babb gets a hug from a teammate after they beat JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Drew Boyd, left, makes a move around JSerra's Brenden Lynch in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Drew Boyd, left, Matt Marano, center, and Kevin Kodzis celebrate a goal against JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Drew Boyd looks to the referee during a faceoff against JSerra's Matt Karzack in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Nate Marano controls the ball against JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Drew Boyd passes the ball against JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill fans cheer after a goal was scored against JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
JSerra's Jake Schleppy, right, celebrates a goal against Foothill in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
Foothill's Nick Matzek, left, gets a stick to the face from JSerra's Jake Henigman in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
JSerra players listen to their coach during a timeout in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
A Foothill player gets congratulated after beating JSerra in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.
JSerra's Mitch Kingsley reacts after losing to Foothill in the Southern Section South Division Championships at Aliso Niguel High on Wednesday.

By Antonio Morales | Orange County Register

May 14, 2014 at 10:57 p.m.

ALISO VIEJO – Foothill boys lacrosse coach Jon Fox says the goal for his program is the same every season, and that’s to win a championship.

The Knights have fallen short of reaching those heights the past two seasons, losing in the semifinals in 2012 and 2013.

Foothill made good on its aspirations Wednesday, defeating JSerra, 12-8, in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division championship game at Aliso Niguel High.

It is the Knights’ sixth county championship in eight seasons and its first title since 2011.

Foothill (20-1) will face Palos Verdes of Palos Verdes Estates in the Southern Section championship game at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Huntington Beach High.

In the first meeting this season between Foothill and JSerra (17-5), the Knights sprinted out to a big lead before JSerra rallied and almost tied the score in the final moments.

Kevin Kodzis wasn’t going to let that happen this time. The sophomore scored two goals in the final five minutes to seal the outcome, and the county championship, for the Knights.

“We knew that wasn’t going to happen this time,” Fox said. “We really studied all the errors we made last time, and we knew if we could get a lead that we could close it out.”

The Lions grabbed a 3-0 lead in first six minutes thanks to goals from Logan Olmsted, James Yanes and Brenden Lynch.

Foothill responded with six consecutive goals, two of which came from Drew Boyd. JSerra came back with two goals to end the half, cutting the Knights’ lead to 6-5 at intermission.

Nate Marano led off the second half with a slick behind-the-back goal and Kodzis scored all three of his goals in the half, which enabled the Knights to keep their lead.

Olmsted and Lunch each scored two goals for the Lions.

Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com