Sticking to the Plan

Pali High Girls Lacrosse Wins First City Title; Boys Win Fourth in a Row

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

One team sought to begin its dynasty. Another sought to continue its own. When the final whistle blew Saturday at El Camino Real High in Woodland Hills, the Palisades High boys and girls lacrosse teams were both City champions.

After watching the girls defeat their nemesis Birmingham 10-6, the Pali High boys took the field—and took it to El Camino Real from the start en route to a 19-3 win that earned them their fourth straight title and fifth in six seasons.

“I’m really proud of our leadership and senior captains,” Pali High boys coach Kevin Donovan said. “It’s the first group I’ve had since they were freshman. They’ve helped build this program and weren’t afraid to challenge the best teams in LA. I’m so proud of their development  on and off the field. We share a special bond and I can’t thank them enough for their hard work in helping me set the foundation to build a first-rate program.”

Co-captain Jackson Demet led the charge with eight goals, Alesandro Caso had three, Jack O’Rourke, Reicher Bergstein and Ethan Rubin each had two and Weston Rauschuber and Milo Sherman added one apiece.

“The year before I got here we actually lost [in the finals] so to win my freshman year and continue on that legacy is great,” said O’Rourke, an Emerson College commit. “The tougher schedule this year got us prepared.”  

While the boys warmed up for their game, Pali High’s girls were letting Ally Stahl score goal after goal to propel her team to a 9-3 halftime lead. It was 10-3 early in the second half before Birmingham scored three quick goals, but got no closer. The Dolphins, who lost last spring’s title game by the same score, raised the trophy after five excruciating finals losses to the Patriots. Credit first-year coach Katlyne Duffey for giving them belief.

“It feels incredible,” said Stahl, who along with her twin sister Sammy helped the Dolphins’ girls water polo team win its first City title in the winter. “We waited so long for this and it finally happened. I’m going to look at this medal for awhile.”