The top-seeded Corona del Mar boys lacrosse team wants to make up for last year and the year before that.
CdM has advanced to the Orange County semifinals of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section championships in each of the previous two years, only to be eliminated.
Last year, CdM lost to St. Margaret’s, 8-6, and was knocked out by JSerra, 9-8, two years ago.
Today, CdM will try to advance to its first O.C. final since 2012, when it faces fourth-seeded Santa Margarita at 4:15 p.m. at Irvine High.
“This group has continued to amaze me with how hard they play and how well they play for each other,” CdM coach G.W. Mix said. “We’re going back to the semifinals again with another new group, which is exciting. I’m happy for them and proud of them and I’m looking forward to watching them compete.”
CdM opened the playoffs with a 14-3 victory over Yorba Linda and defeated Tesoro, 14-7, in the second round.
“We left some unfinished business last year,” senior face-off specialist Jason Simaan said. “We lost a lot of (players) from last year, but everyone has been fired up and ready to go.”
Santa Margarita is the fourth seed. The Trinity League champions have defeated JSerra, 14-10, and Great Oak of Temecula, 17-6, in the playoffs.
If CdM reaches Wednesday’s O.C. final, it will face a team (Foothill or St. Margaret’s) that it has already defeated this season.
Second-seeded Foothill will play third-seeded St. Margaret’s in today’s other semifinal. In the playoffs, the Knights have defeated Santiago of Corona, 20-6, and Trabuco Hills, 9-7; the Tartans have defeated Servite, 16-7, and San Clemente, 17-7.
The girls will also play their O.C. semifinals today at Irvine High. Top-seeded Mater Dei (18-0) faces fourth-seeded Corona del Mar at noon, and third-seeded and defending champion Foothill takes on Newport Harbor at 2 p.m.
Mater Dei defeated Corona del Mar, 14-4, earlier this season, and Foothill defeated Newport Harbor, 15-5, in March.
The Sailors are the 10th seed and have recorded two upsets in the playoffs, knocking off seventh-seeded San Juan Hills, 9-7, and second-seeded St. Margaret’s, 13-12.
Tickets for today’s semifinals are $10 for adults and $5 for kids, or free with a donation of used lacrosse equipment.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
