Boys’ lacrosse (5-2 in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay division) brought home a fast-paced and dominant 10-2 victory over Mountain View High School on Thursday, April 16. With relentless offensive play and solid defense, the ball spent much of the game near Mountain View’s goal.
The Panthers found early momentum on offense, gaining a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the first quarter. After some back-and-forth possessions, the Panthers returned to deliver a third goal entering the second quarter. From there, they continued to expand their lead, scoring four more goals in the second quarter to leave Mountain View scoreless and down seven going into halftime.
“I think it was great offensive movement,” junior attacker Dylan Black said. “I think we were sharing the ball really well. Lots of people got looks.”
Mountain View scored the first goal of the second half, bringing the score to 7-1. The Panthers, undeterred, scored three more goals in the third quarter and entered double digits. While Mountain View scored once more at the start of the final quarter, the Panthers’ skillful ball control kept the rest of the game locked down en route to a 10-2 final score.
“I think they put everything that we built back all year, and they put it together nicely, and it definitely showed on the scoreboard,” coach Luis Amaya Franco said. “It’s a very, very good win, and it’s a very high moment for our guys. Hopefully we can carry on.”
The victory was the third in a row following a similarly dominant 12-2 win against Lowell High School on April 9, and a 10-9 victory against Priory High School on April 14. According to senior offensive player Ravi Krishnan, the team excelled in all areas and displayed strong coordination.
“We were playing some of the best lacrosse I’ve seen us play as a whole team,” Krishnan said. “Everyone was playing together, communicating well, talking, bringing the energy. It was fantastic.”
Both Franco and Krishnan cited the senior goalie Miles Reeth as a key factor in the Panthers’ unwavering defense.
“Communication was key on top of that possession of the goal, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of our goalie. So our goalie was playing phenomenal today,” Franco said.
Franco said there were a few details to polish — including the couple of penalties the Panthers received — but that it was an overall solid display of skill. The Panthers’ most anticipated game is their last regular-season game, against Palo Alto High School on May 7.
“I know they finished this game on a strong note,” Franco said. “Hopefully, they keep that up and let the momentum take them where they need to be.”
In light of the Panthers’ growth, Krishnan is hopeful that the team can deliver a strong finish to the season.
“We were a little slow to start off, but I think now we’re finally getting the rhythm,” Krishnan said. “Guys are starting to put it together, get the chemistry up, and I think the rest of the season is going to be great.”
