LAGUNA HILLS – Los Alamitos’ girls lacrosse team hasn’t been as dominant this year as it has been the past few seasons.
No matter the path the Griffins have taken, they’ll be playing for their sixth consecutive county crown.
Second-seeded Los Alamitos dominated sixth-seeded Corona del Mar, 16-9, in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division semifinals at Laguna Hills High on Saturday.
It’ll be the first title game appearance for the Griffins under Coach Emily Mukai.
“We have such an awesome group, they’re a very mature group, they’ve been around for a while,” Mukai said. “They know how these things work. They’re not a new group to this situation, so it helps me out for sure.”
Senior Grace Schmidt-Beck led the Griffins (13-6) with five goals. Caitlin Derry and Jenny Lange each scored three goals.
Los Alamitos set the tone early, jumping to an 8-2 lead with 6:56 left in the first half.
Two scores from Kacie Kline, and goals from Jamie Smith, Kendall Mulvaney and Payton Carter helped Corona del Mar (16-5) get within three goals early in the second half. The Griffins stormed back with six straight goals to crush any thoughts of a rally.
Los Alamitos will face Beckman, a team the Griffins beat in the South Division final last season, for the county title on Wednesday.
The Patriots beat the Griffins, 15-13, in March.
In the other girls semifinal:
No. 4 Beckman 13, No. 1 Capistrano Valley 11: The Cougars entered Saturday’s semifinal without a blemish on their record, with the No. 1 seed, and the best player in the county on their side.
None of that mattered to the fourth-seeded Patriots. Beckman got seven goals combined from Savannah Krause and Shea O’Donnell to upset Capistrano Valley, 13-11.
It’s the second consecutive title game for the Patriots (15-2), who have knocked the Cougars (17-1) out of the postseason two years in a row.
“It’s phenomenal,” Beckman coach Monica Cullinan said. “The girls have showed so much strength and character this season, and I keep telling them I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Beckman opened a four-goal lead early in the second half thanks to two goals from O’Donnell and withstood a six-goal effort from Capistrano Valley star Riley Eggeman.
A goal that would have brought the Cougars within one score was nullified in the final minutes because of a penalty, ending their hopes of a comeback.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
