MISSION VIEJO – Eye opening is a good way to describe last year’s game between the Capistrano Valley and Los Alamitos girls lacrosse teams.
The Griffins were ranked No. 1 at the time, and the Cougars were ranked second. There was much more separating the teams on the field though, as Los Alamitos won by 14 goals.
Capistrano Valley made sure this year’s rematch was just as memorable.
Riley Eggeman, the Register’s reigning player of the year, scored five goals to help the second-ranked Cougars avenge last season’s loss with an 8-7 victory against the third-ranked Griffins in a nonleague game Wednesday at Capistrano Valley.
“This is basically what we’ve been working for,” Eggeman said. “All the other games so far, have just been practice for this game. This is the most fun, most challenging game. … It’s just such an amazing feeling right now.”
It was a much different start from last season’s game. Capistrano Valley (6-0) raced out to a 3-1 lead – all the goals came from Eggeman.
Los Alamitos (5-3) responded in a way that reflects it winning the last five county championships. Haley Fessenden, who scored three goals, led a Griffins rally.
The score was tied at five at halftime and at six-all late in the second half. Eggeman broke the tie with 9:25 remaining and assisted on what turned out to be the winning goal from Journey Fischbeck with a little more than six minutes left.
Grace Schmidt-Beck scored with seven seconds left for Los Alamitos.
“Biggest win for our program hands down, hands down,” Cougars coach Ryan Gustafson said.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
