Do the math as the expression goes. In regard to the Bonita Vista High School boys lacrosse team, it really does matter.
The Barons have finished at or near the top pf the Metro-Mesa standings since play resumed following the COVID pandemic in 2020. Bonita Vista posted a 10-5 overall mark, 7-2 in league play, in 2021. The Barons followed that with an 11-5 record, 5-1 in league play, in 2022. Bonita Vista’s record was 14-5 in 2023 with a 7-1 league mark and 11-3 last season, also 7-1 in league.
That was before the wave of massive graduation hit following the 2024 campaign, most prominent among those departing the program being Metro-Mesa Player of the Year Caden Ada-Tannehill, also a star football player at the school.
The depleted roster led to a not-so-surprising 0-5 start with losses to the Helix Highlanders (20-2 on March 4), San Diego Cavers (8-2 on March 6), West Hills Wolf Pack (14-4 on March 13) and University City Centurions (14-6 on March 14).
There was much flux in the aftermath of last season. As a multitude of multi-talented players graduation from the program, former coach Sam Cardenas came back on board following the departure of head coach Peter Locke who had guided that aforementioned group to so much success.
“It’s a reloading year,” Cardenas said. “We graduation a ton of seniors. We ended up with one attackman, one middie and one defender. Everyone else was new.”
This new group obviously has a chance to write its own history and it took a giant leap in that department with a rematch March 20 against the Cavers. The Barons broke out to an 8-1 lead. But five consecutive goals by the visitors narrowed the sizable lead to 8-5 by the end of the third quarter. In fact, it could have been reduced to a one-goal lead as San Diego had a potential sixth unanswered goal disallowed.
Bonita Vista finally got back on the scoreboard with 6:22 to play in the fourth quarter on a goal by Kensington Duran, assisted by Damian Nunes.
Duran’s goal proved lifesaving as the Cavers countered with two more goals to trim the BV lead to a tenuous 9-8 with 2:37 remaining in regulation play.
The Cavers had plenty of time, as well as plenty of chances, to make more of a dent into the scoreboard with a man-up possession and later a hit post.
Bonita Vista goalkeeper Zachary Hackley batted down a shot and covered the ball with the webbing on his stick with five seconds to play to run out the clock and hand the Barons their first win of the season.
There was much celebrating, of course, especially around Hackley, who recorded 24 saves in the non-league game.
“It was by the skin of our teeth,” Hackley commented after all the commotion had died down. “It came down to the final seconds. Coming out with the win felt great.”
The Barons got a chance to show their growth over the past few weeks after that six-goal season-opening loss at San Diego.
“All the elements of a game come into play when you’re matched up against an even opponent,” Cardenas said. “We worked hard but it was an ugly win.”
The Barons will take it, and several more like it.
Photos by Phillip Brents
Southern exposure
There’s actually been quite a bit of change this season in the Metro Conference with the addition of boys programs at San Ysidro and Castle Park and a coaching change, for now anyway, at Hilltop.
Other relatively young programs are also setting their feet.
Mater Dei Catholic opened the season with five consecutive home games, winning two of them — 10-3 over Foothills Christian on March 10 and 7-4 over Clairemont on March 18.
Nine South County teams are fielding teams this season, up from as few as five a few years ago. The sport appears headed in the right direction.
San Ysidro entered the week with a 2-4 record, inclusive of a 10-4 win over Morse on March 7 and a 5-2 win against visiting Hilltop last Friday. Early season losses were to Mission Bay (10-5 on Feb. 28) and Rancho Buena Vista (14-1 on March 4).
Castle Park faced off its inaugural season with a 6-1 loss to Hilltop on March 6 and 8-2 setback at Otay Ranch on March 18.
Hilltop opened the season without longtime head coach and program founder Pete Bishop, who is currently sidelined by medical issues. Bob Santos has taken over as interim head coach with assistance from his son Ben Santos, longtime assistant Bob Teague and newcomer Drew Brown, a Pennsylvania native by way of Dickinson College and Cabrini University.
“Lacrosse culture, I think we’re heading there,” Brown said. “We have a lot of first-year players, working on fundamentals and a winning mentality.”
The Lancers faced off the season with an 8-0 loss to Preuss UCSD on Feb. 28 and followed that with a 6-1 loss at Army-Navy Academy on March 3. Hilltop defeated visiting Monte Vista, 9-6, on March 7 before dropping lopsided losses to Clairemont (17-0 on March 10) and Foothills Christian (12-2 on March 18) sandwiched around a 7-2 loss to Fallbrook on March 14.
Photos by Phillip Brents
Eagles nest
Keith Quigley continues to coach both the boys and girls programs at Olympian. The Eagles have posted winning records in both gender fields — 7-5 for the gisls and 4-2 for the boys —to start what looks to be a promising season.
The Lady Eagles sported a 7-3 record to start the new season.
“We’re very excited about our strong start to the season,” Quigley said. “We definitely know it’s still early in the season but happy with our start. Our goal is to make the playoffs each year and see if we can make a run. “
Top players include senior midfield captain Elizabeth Bromley, junior defense captain Liliana Davis, senior attack Maleah Edwards, senior midfield captain Jenna Garcia, senior midfield Kirsten Licon, senior goalkeeper captain Laura Martinez and senior defense Lizeth Ochoa.
Impact newcomers include junior defense/goalkeeper Ren Diaz and sophomore attack Mikaela Stalnaker.
Olympian faced off the season with non-league wins over Monte Vista (15-5 on Feb. 25 and March 3), Canyon Hills (10-9 in double overtime on Feb. 26), Mar Vista (18-6 on March 4), Bonita Vista (14-10 on March 7), Rancho Buena Vista (10-8 on March 11), Mira Mesa (8-7 on March 14) and Otay Ranch (14-0 on March 18).
Scoring leaders for the Lady Eagles include Licon with 25 points (22 goals, three assists), Stainaker with 18 points (17 goals, one assist), Bromley with 18 points (15 goals, three assists), Garcia with 17 points (16 goals, one assist), senior Maleah Edwards with 16 points (11 goals, five assists) and sophomore Ashley Placencia with 11 points (10 goals, one assist).
The Olympian boys improved to 4-2 following last Friday’s 7-5 win at Bonita Vista.
We have a solid core of seniors this year who have some very solid playing experience,” yjr Olympian coach said. “We just need to mesh together a bit more and get some more chemistry going. We’re pushing for a spot in the playoffs knowing that there’s still lots of work to be done.”
Top players on the boys team include senior attack captain Sean Burke, senior midfield captain Nicholas Cabrera, senior midfield Jacob Gregory, sophomore defense Michael Jorgensen and senior attack captain Nolan Tompkins.
Impact newcomers include freshman defense Aden Cadriel and junior goalkeeper Gianni Marino.
Mater Dei Catholic defeated Bonita Vista, 8-4, on Tuesday to improve to 4-3. It marked the third consecutive win for the Crusaders, who topped Clairemont, 7-4, on March 18 and Eastlake, 12-9, last Friday.
Eastlake dropped to 2-6 on the season with wins against Grossmont (11-5 on March 4) and Valley Center (17-15 on March 18).
San Diego Section Rankings
(Through March 22)
BOYS LACROSSE
LAX Numbers Rankings
- Torrey Pines 5-2
- La Costa Canyon 4-3
- Cathedral Catholic 6-2
- Santa Fe Christian 3-3
- Bishop’s 5-4
- Coronado 5-3
- Carlsbad 5-5
- St. Augustine 3-3-1
- San Marcos 3-4
- Del Norte 7-0
- La Jolla 6-4
- San Dieguito Academy 7-1
- Granite Hills 4-4
- Poway 2-4
- Santana 5-4
- Pt Loma 6-2
- La Jolla Country Day 5-3
- Francis Parker 2-4
- Westview 4-3
- Patrick Henry 4-5
- Scripps Ranch 0-8
- Helix 6-0
- Mt. Carmel 6-2
- El Capitan 3-3
- Canyon Crest Academy 4-3
- Rancho Bernardo 2-4
- West Hills 4-6
- Mission HiIls 5-4
29, Valhalla 7-0
- University City 3-4
- Mater Dei Catholic 3-3
- Pacific Ridge 1-3
- Eastlake 2-6,
- Valley Center 1-9
- San Diego 2-5
- Rancho Buena Vista 7-0
- Classical Academy 5-2
- Clairemont 3-3
- Grossmont 0-9
- Olympian 4-2
- Preuss UCSD 5-1
- Foothills Christian 2-2
- Bonita Vista 1-6
- Fallbrook 2-7
- Del Lago Academy 5-3
- Mission Bay 4-4
- Canyon Hills 2-3
- Lincoln 0-1
- Army-Navy Academy 2-3
- San Ysidro 2-4
- Sage Creek 0-3
- Hilltop 2-7
- Monte Vista 2-5
- Otay Ranch 2-2
- Morse 2-5
- Mira Mesa 0-5
- Castle Park 0-2
- Mar Vista 0-3
GIRLS LACROSSE
LAX Numbers Rankings
- Coronado 5-0
- La Costa Canyon 5-1
- Torrey Pines 4-3
4, San Marcos 10-1
- Cathedral Catholic 5-1
- Bishop’s 7-1
- Carlsbad 10-1
- Del Norte 7-1
- Scripps Ranch 4-4
- La Jolla 3-6
- Francis Parker 2-4
- Mt. Carmel 4-3
- Rancho Bernardo 6-1
- La Jolla Country Day 4-4
- Canyon Crest Academy 4-5
- Valhalla 6-1
- San Dieguito Academy 3-4
- Patrick Henry 4-4
- Poway 2-6
- Sage Creek 5-5
- Mission Hills 4-3
- Tri-City Christian 4-2
- Westview 3-3
- Granite Hills 3-5
- Fallbrook 5-8
- University City 3-5
- San Ysidro 7-3
- Mira Mesa 2-4
- Olympian 7-4
- Pt. Loma 3-4
- El Capitan 3-3
- Bonita Vista 7-5
- Mission Bay 4-1
- Our Lady of Peace 3-4
- Canyon Hills 3-3
- Classical Academy 5-3
- Pacific Ridge 0-4
- Rancho Buena Vista 5-3
- Mater Dei Catholic 4-4
- Castle Park 2-3
- West Hills 3-5
- Grossmont 0-4
- Helix 3-7
- Valley Center 1-10
- Clairemont 3-2
- Mission Vista 2-6
- El Camino 1-2
- Del Lago Academy 2-1
- Mar Vista 1-1
- Morse 4-4
- Santana 3-6
- Vista 1-11
- Preuss UCSD 0-1
- Otay Ranch 2-4
- Hilltop 1-1
- San Diego 0-5
- Monte Vista 1-6
- Ramona 0-4
- Southwest 0-2
- Lincoln 0-0
BASEBALL
Top 20 (MaxPreps): 1. Granite Hills 5-0-0, 2. Escondido Charter 5-0-0, 3. Southwest El Centro 12-2-0, 4. San Pasqual 4-1-0, 5. Pt. Loma 5-1-0. 6. Carlsbad 6-2-0, 7. Escondido 5-1-0, 8. University City 6-1-0, 9. El Camino 5-2-0, 10. Palo Verde Valley 9-2-1, 11. Mission Bay 8-0-0, 12. Torrey Pines 3-2-0, 13. Christian 5-1-0, 14. St. Augustine 3-4-0, 15. Sage Creek 4-3-0, 16. La Costa Canyon 3-2-0, 17. Madison 6-3-0, 18. Eastlake 4-2-0, 19. San Ysidro 7-5-0, 20. Westview 5-2-0
SOFTBALL
Top 20 (MaxPreps): 1. Mater Dei Catholic 7-1-0, 2. Bonita Vista 8-2-0, 3. Imperial 8-2-0, 4. Escondido Charter 8-2-0, 5. Pt. Loma 9-2-1, 6. Poway 6-2-0, 7. Rancho Buena Vista 5-3-0, 8. Christian 9-3-1, 9. Eastlake 7-2-1, 10. West Hills 6-2-0, 11. Mission Hills 7-3-0, 12. Del Norte 5-3-1, 13. Cathedral Catholic 4-3-0, 14. Sweetwater 6-0-1, 15. San Marcos 6-4-0, 16. Otay Ranch 4-2-1, 17. La Costa Canyon 6-3-0, 18. San Dieguito Academy 7-1-1, 19. Santana 6-3-0, 20. Mission Bay 7-3-0
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCOREBOARD
Bonita Vista 2, Eastlake 1
Bonita Vista 5, Mission Hills 4
Bonita Vista 8, Pt. Loma 2
Bonita Vista 19, Mar Vista 0
Bonita Vista 3, Mission Hills 1
Bonita Vista record: 9-2
Eastlake 11, Granite Hills 6
Eastlake 0, Del Norte 0
Eastlake 6, Helix 1
Eastlake 12, Holtville 0
Eastlake 8, Valhalla 0
Eastlake record: 8-2-1
