El Toro Topples San Clemente in Boys Lacrosse Showdown

In the last episode between the El Toro and San Clemente boys lacrosse teams, there was a 4-0 lead, an overtime and an exciting finish with the Chargers escaping with a come-from-behind victory. On Friday night, the Tritons came out with revenge on their minds, scoring the game’s first goal. But after that it was all El Toro, whose players made sure this game wouldn’t be decided by a single shot.

The Chargers' offense broke open a 4-3 game by scoring eight unanswered goals over a 30-minute stretch, while their defense prevented San Clemente from driving to the net. The result was a convincing and surprising easily 12-5 South Coast League victory by El Toro on a warm evening at Thalassa Stadium in San Clemente.

The Chargers (8-0) are again ranked No. 2 in Orange County this week, right behind Foothill. Their offense has outscored their opponents by 28 goals, and the defense is allowing opponents only 4.5 goals a game.

In the first meeting on March 15, El Toro overcame a 4-0 San Clemente lead to tie the score and force overtime. The Chargers then scored twice in the extra period for a 6-5 victory at El Toro. It was a bitter loss for the Tritons and a fortunate victory for the Chargers.

“In the first game we came out flat, so we talked about getting off to a better start,” Chargers coach Adam Guy said. “We came out of the first quarter with a 4-2 lead and we kept the pressure on them. San Clemente is very patient with the ball. They are well-disciplined. But they were running the same things and got lulled to sleep. They started pressing out a little, so we were able to start getting transition goals.”

San Clemente had closed to within one on the first of two goals by midfielder Max Satossky when El Toro scored the first of its eight straight goals on its best-looking offensive play of the game. The Chargers' defense had forced a turnover and got the ball ahead to midfielder Jake Craycraft. He passed to attacker Ryan Cole on the right, who then tossed a short pass to junior midfielder Jared Ferrell who was coming down the left side. Ferrell turned and fired the ball past goalie Ian Jameson for a 5-3 lead.

“When we play the two-man game, Jared is probably one of the best,” Guy said.

El Toro followed with consecutive goals by Bryce Cano (unassisted), Chris Snarr and Craycraft with 27 seconds left in the half. Then, in the second half, goals by Ferrell, Jake Johnson, Richard Morrison and Core pushed the Chargers lead to 12-3 with 6:37 left and the outcome was no longer in doubt.

“We came out to play tonight,” said Ferrell who finished with three goals. “We fielded the ball better and came out strong. Our shooters kept on shooting.”

El Toro goalie Chris Laurino was outstanding in the cage, coming up with 10 saves and using defensemen Jordan Terrio and Ryan Lampman to keep the Tritons from attacking the goal, forcing them to shoot outside, where they connected on only five of 32 shot attempts.

“Keeping the shots outside is the key,” Laurino said. “Our defense has been really good this year, but this is probably the best game the team has played this year.”

El Toro finished with 30 shots but Jameson had only five saves. Laurino said the players are confident and believe they are the best team in the county.

“We definitely are the best team,” Laurino said. “We keep on making statements every week. We don’t back down, and we don’t give up.”