SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Boys Lacrosse

It's official! Eastlake wins Metro Conference championship

A new era appears to have dawned in Metro Conference boys lacrosse with the crowning of Eastlake as this year’s conference champion. The Titans officially replaced three-time defending champion Bonita Vista at the helm after scoring a 13-1 victory against visiting Otay Ranch on May 2.

Eastlake led 8-0 at halftime against the first-year Mustangs en route to hiking its conference record to 9-0. The Titans will be out to close out a perfect 10-0 conference schedule with a victory at Bonita Vista on May 9.

Super sophomore Seth Breeden (five goals) and senior Jovanny Lopez (two goal, seven assists) led the offensive attack against Otay Ranch while junior Matt Scott scored three times and Pablo Santana, James Hiney and Cory Matheson each scored once.

The Titans’ championship push started almost immediately after the season ended last year, according to team members.

“We’ve been training since last year ended. Four or five of us have played year round. We had a huge head start,” said senior Adrian Van Vleck, who has led by example as one of the team’s dedicated year-round players.

The Titans have made steady progression under the guidance of head coach Doug Murphy, winning two games his first season, five games his second season and now 11 games and counting.

“I guess our success is due to a lot of preaching on my part, pushing the guys and guys working in the offseason. Nine months out of the year I can’t have contact with the team. I can’t carry that load. They have to carry that load on their own,” Murphy said.

The conference title gives the Titans an automatic entry into this year’s 16-team San Diego Section playoff tournament that begins May 13. Bonita Vista has represented the conference in three previous postseason tournaments. With a 2-6 non-league record and three of those losses by two goals or less, the Titans expect to be competitive, especially should they receive a middle of the pack draw.

“We’re just excited to be going to the playoffs. Our goal is to play a competitive game and win it if we can,” Murphy said.