SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Boys Lacrosse

Sultans top Titans, 6-4, as rebuilding season continues

CHULA VISTA, April 16, 2004 -- The Santana High School boys lacrosse team graduated nine players last season, including most of its midfield. The Sutlans have steadily made up ground through the course of the first half of this season, evening their mark at 4-4 following Friday's 6-4 non-league victory against Eastlake at Rancho del Rey Middle School.

Stephen Young had two goals, including what proved to be the game-winner while Ryan Scates, Kyle Harrell, Joe Conant and David Bass each scored single goals for the Sultans, who led 3-1 early before Eastlake (4-8) narrowed the score to 4-3 at halftime.

"They've improved a lot. At this part of the season, they're starting to put four to five passes together and that's the real part of this game," Santana coach Dan Appleby said. "Our real test starts Monday with league play."

Five schools compete in the Grossmont Conference. Joining the Sultans, who are in their third year of play in the sport, are Monte Vista, Granite Hills, Helix and Grossmont. Both Monte Vista and Granite Hills have upper end programs in the San Diego Section this season.

Santana excelled on the field against the Titans via overall physical size that was far superior. Titan star attackman Anthony Charlton was put out of the game in the final period on a crunching hit.

Appleby noted his team succeeded despite the absence of its top player, senior Zach Shepard, who missed the game due to illness. The Sultans coach was particularly pleased with the offense generated by both Scates and Bass, both of whom are first-year players.

Besides Shepard, other top performers this season for the Sultans include Harrell as well as Adam Vickery, Andrew Richter, Blake Lauria and Shaun Johnson. The team is buttressed by second-year goalkeeper Dave Swank.

The loss was frustrating for Eastlake, which had previously dropped a 6-4 contest to Santana earlier in the season. At times it appeared that the momentum had swung the Titans' way after rallying to tie the game at 3-3 in the first half. But the inability to hold onto the ball as hits were delivered and missed shots hurt the team's comeback.

"We don't have a lot of football players come out for the sport here (in the Metro Conference). Where I grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., our team was made up of 65 percent football players and another 10 to 15 percent of basketball players. The sport was getting the best athletes at the school," Eastlake coach Doug Murphy said. "I think that will happen here but it won't be for a long time. We have a lot of smaller guys who are coming out and doing well but we can't match the big guys."