After winning their first game of the season against Glendale last Thursday, the Coyotes Boys Lacrosse team fell 13-7 in their home opener against Royal High School despite a standout performance from senior Matthew Miller, who tallied five goals.
Royal took control early, ending the first quarter with a 3-1 lead after Calabasas’ Gage Oleesky scored the Coyotes’ lone goal of the period. Calabasas responded in the second quarter, with Oleesky assisting Miller for a goal at the 11:30 mark. Junior Ethan Shapiro added defensive pressure with a steal that nearly led to another score, but Miller’s shot narrowly missed wide. However, he quickly made up for it with a second consecutive goal to tie the game 3-3 with nine minutes remaining in the 2nd.
Royal responded furiously with three consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 6-3. Calabasas clawed back as Miller bounced in another goal with a low shot, but Royal’s Aidan Johnson responded to make it 7-4 with three minutes left in the half. After Royal added another goal, senior Milad Toufighi won a crucial faceoff that paved the way for Miller’s third goal of the quarter, cutting the deficit to 8-5 at halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams trading scoring opportunities, and Coyotes’ goalkeeper Asher Katz made two critical saves early on to prevent the game from getting away. However, the Highlanders extended their lead to 9-5 before Jerome Fohrman answered for Calabasas with seven minutes remaining. Royal’s Jagger Casilli missed a wide-open shot but capitalized moments later, scoring twice within a minute to put Royal ahead 11-6. Miller responded with his fifth goal in the closing seconds of the quarter to make it 11-7 heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Royal further extended its lead with two additional goals while Calabasas struggled to find the net. The Highlanders’ final goal at 3:29 sealed the 13-7 victory, securing their win despite Calabasas’ efforts to mount a comeback.
“Our offense has been clicking, which is great, but defensively, we can improve by tightening up our slides and communication,” said Toufighi. “We need to be more disciplined in our matchups. If we play as a unit and everyone’s healthy, I believe we can be a really tough defense.”
Despite the loss, Calabasas had several standout individual performances worth highlighting. Miller’s explosive performance of five goals further extended his offensive tear, following a six-goal showing against Glendale just a week earlier. Shapiro contributed three assists and two ground balls, while sophomore brothers Jake and Dylan Sesser each secured five ground balls. Jerome Fohrman and Gage Oleesky each recorded a goal and an assist, showcasing their all-around contributions. In goal, former basketball player Katz made seven crucial saves in only his second career lacrosse game.
The Coyotes will look to bounce back on the road against San Marcos today as they continue their non-league schedule.
