Mission Viejo boys advance in lacrosse playoffs

Mission Viejo’s boys lacrosse team kept turning back challenges from South Coast League rival San Clemente on Tuesday night, and the Diablos held on for a 13-10 victory in the opening round of the U.S. Lacrosse-Southern Section playoffs at St. Margaret’s.

The No. 9-seeded Diablos move on to face No. 1 Corona del Mar on Thursday (5 p.m.) at Corona del Mar. No. 8 San Clemente continues the postseason in a consolation-round game on Friday.

“It was a rubber match. We each won one (in the South Coast League), so I was glad to get them in the first round,” Mission Viejo coach Scott Abraham said. “Both teams played hard.

“This game went back and forth and back and forth. They were very relentless and they’re a well coached team.”

Mission Viejo got solid performances from midfielder Patrick Olney (five goals) and Hudson Parker (four goals).

San Clemente was led by midfielder Duke deLancelotti, who had five goals, and attack man Steven Kassity (two goals).

The game was tied, 5-5, at halftime, but Mission Viejo held a 9-6 lead after three quarters.

San Clemente refused to roll over, though.

The Tritons closed the gap to 9-8 on goals by Kassity and Ian Lawbaugh before the Diablos countered with three goals, two by Olney and one by Parker, to make it 12-8.

San Clemente made one last charge, cutting the lead to 12-10 on a goal by deLancelotti with 5:36 left. But Parker scored with 53.6 left to clinch the victory.

In other first round games:

Corona del Mar 15, Trabuco Hills 2: Noah Molnar scored three goals and had three assists, and Randall Nelson and Ryan Mix had three goals each to lead the top-seeded Sea Kings (18-1).

Michael Ortlieb added two goals and starting goalie Andew Noto had five saves.

Foothill 18, Beckman 3: The No. 2 seeded Knights, the two-time defending Southern California champions, were led by Chris Cole's three goals and one assist.

Santa Margarita 10, Tesoro 3: Ryan Parent and Jack Cranston scored three goals each to lead the No. 5 seeded Eagles, who will face St. Margaret’s in the second round on Thursday.

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com