Lacrosse Debuts at Palisades High

According to the scoreboard, the result of last Saturday morning’s varsity lacrosse game was a loss, but for everyone associated with Palisades High’s newest sports program, it marked a symbolic victory. Several years of hard work and persistence by forward-thinking parents and enthusiasm from eager student-athletes finally found its way to the Stadium by the Sea turf and although the Dolphins lost, 15-1, to a more seasoned Loyola team, there were signs that Palisades can be a force in coming years. “I wasn’t there but from what I understand the kids were a little shell shocked at the start and they jumped on us right away,” PaliHi head coach Dave Schaller said. “It’s not all that surprising given the fact that we only had about two full weeks of practice before our first game.” The lone bright spot for Palisades came midway through the second quarter when sophomore Eric Rosen scored the first goal in the fledgling program’s history. Problem was, the Dolphins were down 7-0 at the time. In the junior varsity game that followed, Palisades won 7-6 in overtime. Riley Gitlen, Alex Quinonez and Travis Dezarn each scored twice for the Dolphins, with Gitlen running the length of the field for the game-winner 3:10 into extra time. While its debut was not what Palisades had hoped for, it might have been a needed wake-up call for it didn’t take long for the varsity to notch its first-ever home victory. After being dominated for most of the first half, Palisades rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Foothill, 14-11, on Monday afternoon. “I’ve played and watched a lot of lacrosse but this was one of the most incredible comebacks I’ve ever seen,” Schaller said. “I’m so proud of these players. In the first half it looked like we wouldn’t even get a shot on goal let alone score. But we switched some guys around on defense, did a better job of containing and got back in it.” Christian Clark won 12 face-offs and goalie Jesse Poller, who missed the Loyola game, made six saves. Rosen led the scoring with five goals on 10 shots. Junior Josh Packer added four goals and one assist while Dezarn and Max Gross each scored twice and Sudsy Dyke scored once. Gitlen tallied three assists. After the slow start, Palisades scored three goals in a seven-minute span of the second quarter to pull within 6-3 at halftime. Pali took its first lead midway through the third quarter. “We run a lot in practice so we don’t get tired,” Schaller said. “We were in better condition and I think that made a difference as the game went on.” In the junior varsity game that followed, Palisades lost 9-1. Along with assistant coaches Paul Piatti and Scott Hylen, Schaller was more than satisfied with the progress the team made in its first week of competition. The Dolphins play Loyola again later in the season and Schaller predicts a better result. “I can’t wait to play Loyola again,” Schaller. “Based on the improvement I saw from the first half of this game to the second half, it will be a better game. I’m not saying we’re going to win, but it will be a better game.” LA Lacrosse League In the U-12 division, the red defeated the blue, 4-3, last Sunday at Palisades Recreation Center. The blue team took an early 3-0 lead on two goals by Stephan Callas and one by Conner Yost. Galen Lansbury and Nick Steinfeld each scored twice in the second half for the red. LALL serves as the chief youth feeder program for Palisades High.