By Steve Breazeale
For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School spring sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.
Keany’s Goal Lifts Tritons Lacrosse Past Tesoro for Overtime Playoff Win
San Clemente sophomore Matt Keany saw a sliver of an opening in the Tesoro boys lacrosse defense in sudden death overtime, with a chance to score and send his team into the second round of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division playoffs on May 5.
The Tesoro zone defense had done well to limit the Tritons attack in the second half, but just minutes into overtime, Keany sent home a shot that secured an 8-7 victory for San Clemente and a second-round matchup with No. 2 Corona del Mar on May 7.
“I just saw the defense was shifting off a little bit, I saw a little bit of room and I just kind of hitched and went inside and let it go,” Keany said.
The goal was Keany’s third of the night.
Tesoro looked to take control of the game in overtime when their efficient faceoff man Cole Spooner, who had dominated the circle all night, won the faceoff and the Titans immediately called timeout.
Tesoro tried to pass across the point out of the timeout but San Clemente midfielder Ryan Crawford intercepted the pass, drove down the field and set up Keany’s game-winning shot.
“I was debating on calling a timeout but we got the right personnel on the field right away so I just kind of let them play it out a bit unsettled. And (Keany) capitalized, it was a great shot,” Tritons head coach Brad Reppert said.
The two teams became very familiar with each other over the course of the season. The Tritons won both South Coast League games against the Titans by a combined score of 15-11, including a narrow 8-7 victory four days earlier on May 1 that mirrored the same outcome of the playoff game to come.
Tesoro took its first lead of the game one minute into the fourth quarter when Blake Warner scored from behind the net to make it 6-5.
The Tritons Jack Renard scored six minutes later and Tesoro responded in kind when Jason Moreta bounced off of a San Clemente defender near the net, spun and scored to bring it to 7-6.
After both teams committed turnovers on their next possession, San Clemente’s Brandon Wilson corralled a pass from Keany on the left side and scored with two minutes left to end regulation.
Tesoro scored twice and San Clemente scored once in the final 56 seconds before halftime, giving the Tritons a 4-3 lead.
The Tritons will have their hands full in the second round when they travel to play Corona del Mar on May 7. The Sea Kings defeated San Clemente 20-2 on March 14.
Wolverines Girls Lacrosse Edges Tritons
Aliso Niguel freshman Michaela Mahoney scored a hat trick and helped lead the Wolverines to a narrow 7-6 victory over San Clemente in the first round of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division playoffs on May 5.
The league champion Wolverines held a slim 2-1 lead at halftime and both teams offense’s erupted for five goals in the second half.
The loss ends the season for the Tritons, who went 8-9 overall and finished fourth in the South Coast League.
Schwartz Advances to CIF Individual Championship
Sammy Schwartz was able to get under par and card a 140 (-4) total after two days of competition in the South Coast League finals at Talega Golf Club May 3-4, earning himself a spot in the CIF Southern Individual Regional at Skylinks in Long Beach on May 11.
Schwartz was the only Triton golfer who advanced to individual competition. Dana Hills and Tesoro each sent three golfers.
Softball Routs Tesoro in 8-0 Shutout
The San Clemente softball team picked up a key 8-0 victory over league rival Tesoro on May 5, vaulting them into position to finish near the top of the Sea View League.
San Clemente (16-5, 3-2 league) has three league games remaining, including a tilt against first-place Laguna Hills on the last day of the season, May 13. That game could decide the league championship.
Against the Titans on May 5, the San Clemente bats collected 11 hits and scored a run in all but one inning while limiting Tesoro to just four hits and no runs.
Baseball Enters Pivotal Series With Diablos
The San Clemente baseball team was set to open a two-game series with Mission Viejo on May 6, which could decide the Sea View League title. Results for the first game were not available at press time.
The final game of the series will be on May 8 at San Clemente.
Both teams are 7-1 in league play and Mission Viejo currently holds the tiebreaker over the Tritons. The Diablos beat San Clemente on March 31 behind a spectacular pitching effort from Patrick Sandoval. The Tritons will see him again in the two-game set.
San Clemente (19-6) will have one league game remaining, against San Juan Hills on May 14, after the series with Mission Viejo. The Diablos will play two more league games, both against Laguna Hills, after their game against San Clemente.
Boys Volleyball Takes Second at Redondo Tournament
The San Clemente boys volleyball team turned in a strong effort at the Redondo Union Classic Tournament May 1-2, winning their pool and advancing to the tournament finals. San Clemente lost to Campolindo, a team they defeated in pool play, in the championship match.
San Clemente defeated Peninsula, Calabasas, Campolindo, Eastlake, Valencia and Saddleback Valley Christian en route to the championships.
Seniors Brandon Hopper and Matt August earned all-tournament honors.
San Clemente (26-6, 5-3) finished second in the South Coast League and will await the CIF-SS Division 1 playoff brackets, which will be issued May 8 at 2 p.m.
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