Pali Lacrosse Team Loses Home Opener

The Pacific Palisades Lacrosse Club hosted its first home game of the season at Palisades High’s Stadium by the Sea last Friday against Pacific Coast Lacrosse Association rival Beverly Hills. Palisades played on even terms with its opponent in the first half to forge a 5-5 tie. But the older, more experienced Beverly Hills squad outscored Pali 9-1 in the second half en route to a 14-6 victory. Pali took a 1-0 lead on a goal by last year’s PCLA Junior Varsity scoring leader, Nick Sherman. First-year midfielder Eric Rosen scored twice, as did senior Joe Luckett. Sophomore team captain Sudsy Dyke also tallied for the home team. The loss was the second in as many games for Palisades, which had suffered a 12-6 defeat to host Downey in its opener the week before. In that game, Pali gave up the first five goals and trailed 8-2 at halftime before matching Downey goal for goal in the final 24 minutes. First-year player, senior Jeremy Chahen, led Pali with three goals while Sherman chipped in two. Sophomore Josh Packer scored Pali’s other goal. Dyke picked up a team-high five ground balls as Pali worked hard to control play against a larger and more physical Downey club. Pali Lacrosse Club is one of 12 varsity level teams in the PCLA this year, playing in the ‘B’ (second tier) Division after finishing second in the junior varsity bracket last year. Pali suited up 31 players Friday, an increase over last year’s 20-man squad. Lacrosse is growing fast throughout Southern California, with over 70 teams this spring. Pali’s varsity team plays seven more games this season and its ‘B’ team will play five. The plan is to field complete varsity and junior varsity teams and offer a full program next year. The varsity played at Culver City on Tuesday and travels to Mira Costa April 6 and to Malibu April 9. Pali hosts Palos Verdes April 16 and defending PCLA champion Harvard-Westlake April 22 at 6 p.m. Pali wraps up the regular season at home against Loyola April 30 and at Windward May 5. Fielding a 19-player junior varsity team, Pali finished second in league with a 9-2-1 record last year. Key victories included a 20-1 rout of Manual Arts (led by Sherman’s seven goals) and a 12-8 upset over previously undefeated Malibu at Stadium by the Sea. For more information about the program, call Andrea Dyke at 230-3298 or Lori Mendez at 454-0361.