The Bonita Vista High School boys lacrosse team finished 8-9 with a 6-4 loss to Fallbrook in the first round of the San Diego Section Division II playoffs.
The Barons are 2-2 to start the 2015 campaign – one that offers some promise with a team populated more by juniors and seniors than by sophomores and freshmen.
“We’re not deep, only about 20 of the 30 kids we carry on the roster see significant playing time, but we’re scrappy,” BVHS coach San Cardenas explained. “If we stay together as a team and play together as a team, we’ll get results.”
Cardenas’ squad got a positive result Wednesday in recording a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win over the visiting Valhalla Norsemen in non-league play. The Barons trailed by scores of 3-1 and 4-2 at various junctures of the game before tallying the final two goals, including one with 21 seconds remaining in regulation play, to force overtime.
Bonita Vista then won the game on a goal by freshman Billy Ray Esparza with 1:49 remaining in the four-minute sudden-victory OT period.
Baron players celebrated as if they had just won a playoff game — and who isn’t to say that it isn’t in the future of this group of players?
“The last two years we’ve made the playoffs in Division II, and our goal is to make the playoffs again and go deeper into them,” Cardenas said.
Valhalla held a slight advantage in the run of play in the first half and the Norsemen’s 3-2 halftime lead was an example of that. The East County visitors received two goals from Kellen Wattlet and a single goal from Nick Fuller, assisted by teammate Garrett Cook, while the hosts received goals from Frank Rodriguez and Jason Bergado, with an assist going to Diego Cervantes.
The Norsemen increased their lead to 4-2 on a goal by Zach Ardagona, assisted by Jordan Walters, but the Barons chipped away with two goals late in the final quarter. Rodriguez scored a man-up goal to make it a one-goal game at 4-3 and, with the hosts in desperate need of another goal to tie the game, Cervantes notched the equalizer in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
The Barons carried the momentum into the overtime period, with BV goalkeeper Dan Chier required to make just one save before Esparza scored the game-winner.
Chier had a big part in the BVHS victory with 17 saves in the game.
Valhalla collected 30 ground balls in a losing effort while goalie Duran Alomi netted 13 saves.
The Norsemen, who dropped match-ups to longtime Grossmont Conference powers Granite Hills (20-0) and Grossmont (18-0), dropped to 0-4 on the season.
Cervantes and Bergardo are both returning captains for Bonita Vista. Other key players for the Barons this season include Anthony Cardenas and Carlos Turrubiartes. All are seniors.
Impact newcomers include Esparza and defenders Santiago deArmas, a sophomore, and George Seago, a junior.
“I think we’ll do OK in league play,” the BVHS coach said. “There’s stronger competition this year. Eastlake is still the top team in the league. But I think any team is good enough to make the playoffs.”
Eagles soar with 16-1 win in season opener
The Olympian Eagles faced off the 2015 boys lacrosse season in grand style by defeating the visiting Santana Sultans, 16-1, in a non-league game March 6.
Midfielder Anthony Hughes led the Eagles with six goals and two assists while attackman Alex Medina had three goals and one assist and defensemen Tyler Santini contributed three goals.
J.C. Madrid started the game in the net for Olympian, with Victor Godinez playing the second half.
Olympian posted its most successful season in school history last year with a 13-7 record and first-round playoff win over El Capitan.
“I’m definitely excited about the potential this Olympian team brings into its third season of play,” Eagles coach Keith Quigley said. “We made it to the second round of the playoffs last season, so we’re definitely hoping to have another shot at playoff lacrosse again. We have a solid core of returning players and a mix of new guys who I’m looking forward to working with.”
Boys Lacrosse Scoreboard
March 6
Helix 5, Mar Vista 3
Santa Fe Christian 13, Eastlake 4
Olympian 16, Santana 1
March 9
Bonita Vista 10, Monte Vista 3
March 10
Mar Vista 9, Santana 1
Preuss UCSD 14, Hilltop 4
Granite Hills 12, Otay Ranch 2
March 11
Army-Navy Academy 15, Mar Vista 4
March 12
El Camino 11, Mar Vista 1
Chula Vista 7, Foothills Christian 6
March 13
Westview 12, Eastlake 4
Preuss UCSD 11, Southwest 1
Hilltop 9, Del Lago 1
Canyon Crest Academy 13, Otay Ranch 7
March 14
Helix 10, Bonita Vista 7
El Camino 12, Chula Vista 0
March 16
San Dieguito Academy 10, Bonita Vista 9
Eastlake 16, Mar Vista 3
Patrick Henry 15, Olympian 6
El Camino 7, Otay Ranch 3
March 17
Hilltop 13, Foothills Christian 3
March 18
Bonita Vista 5, Valhalla 4 (OT)
Eastlake 13, Chula Vista 0
Girls Lacrosse Scoreboard
March 5
Bonita Vista 13, Serra 5
March 6
Monte Vista 11, Olympian 6
March 9
San Diegfo 13, Olympian 7
Otay Ranch 11, Monte Vista 1
Valley Center 15, Chula Vista 8
March 10
Bonita Vista 8, Grossmont 6
March 11
Bonita Vista 8, Eastlake 7
Scripps Ranch 14, Eastlake 2
Otay Ranch 15, Mar Vista 7
Hilltop 10, Chula Vista 2
March 12
Otay Ranch 9, Santa Fe Christian 5
March 13
La Jolla Country Day 9, Olympian 4
March 16
Eastlake 15, Chula Vista 2
Otay Ranch 18, Olympian 3
March 17
Bonita Vista 15, Mar Vista 12
Eastlake 11, Monte Vista 4
March 18
Bonita Vista 14, Chula Vista 6
Eastlake 14, Olympian 3
Otay Ranch 6, Hilltop 4
Surf, Sun & Stix Tournament
March 14 at Westview HIgh School
El Camino 8, Eastlake 6
Patrick Henry 5, Eastlake 4
Eastlake 10, Grossmont 3
