On February 23rd, the CHS girls lacrosse team was defeated 5-10 against El Camino Real. It was their second in a two-game series against the Royals, with both games being played at Calabasas.
The game started slow for both teams, as both teams had a stifling defense that often stopped the opponent’s offensive pressure. Amidst this defense, though, El Camino managed to put two into the Calabasas net, although junior Avery Shellow would respond by putting Calabasas on the scoreboard. This marked the first time the Coyotes scored in the first quarter through their first four games.
The slow but back-and-forth pace would continue into the second quarter. El Camino scored immediately off a penalty shot at the eight-meter, but Shellow would nab her second goal off an assist from sophomore team captain Kiera Richley. The Coyotes would continue their offensive pressure throughout the remaining quarter, but they were unable to put any more shots past the El Camino goalkeeper. This combination of great offensive and defensive pressure for both teams led to the quarter ending at a notably small score of 2-3, but this was easily the Coyotes’ best half in their short history as a girls’ lacrosse team. They partly credit this success to using team practices to hone in on specific skills.
“I would say we worked on our passes at practice and connecting them across the field, and I think that’s really improved our game in the midfield,” said Richley. “Additionally, we worked on communication, which I think has helped a lot to keep our rhythm going,” said senior and fellow team captain Kendall Reich.
However, even with the Coyotes’ best efforts to keep the momentum going into the second half, including a Kendall Reich goal, El Camino turned on a new offensive gear. Within only five minutes, they had scored three more goals to put the score at 3-6. Keeping up the energy in the second half has been somewhat of an issue, according to head coach Andy Richley.
“Somehow, we tend to fall out of games later on,” said coach Richley. “We stick in really good, we keep a close score, and then we fade out in the second half, and I’m not sure what’s causing that. I don’t think it’s conditioning; I think it’s just a mental game we have to work on.”
Even though Richley and Reich contributed to goals later in the quarter, it would be no match for a continued downpour of El Camino offensive pressure, as they slotted three more goals past Calabasas, ending the third quarter at 5-9. Notably, the Coyotes were missing multiple players due to injuries and sickness, like seniors Pepper Galassi, Hayley Katofsky, and Kolette Tetlow. In previous games, the Coyotes often relied on players like these for bursts of offensive pressure and defensive stops. Without the overall presence of those seniors, the team’s chemistry likely wasn’t as good as it possibly could have been.
“I think if we have everybody, it would be a much closer game,” said coach Richley. “We’d be much more rested, we’d have the whole dynamic and chemistry, and I think that would help us a lot.
The 4th quarter wouldn’t see much more action aside for a final El Camino goal, setting the final score at 5-10. Even though the Coyotes suffered a tough loss, this is their first real season being a team, and this year is the first time many of the players on the squad have ever played lacrosse. For these reasons and others, the Coyotes are incredibly optimistic about the future.
“I think that even though we did lose today, we’ve played our best game all season,” said Reich. “You could tell we’re already improving as a team. Just the way we work together on the field, it’s really showing.”
They will play their next game tomorrow against Newbury Park.
