A tight matchup from the get-go, the Cougars fall just shy in
12-10 loss
After starting the season 5-0, Sacred Heart Prep handed the Christopher High lacrosse team its first loss on March 26. Something about the defeat just didn’t sit right with the players.
“I don’t think we played to our full potential in that game,” CHS head coach Tim Pirozzoli said. “We knew we were plying them again and wanted to be prepared for that. We definitely wanted to come back and prove that we could hang with them. And I think they showed that.”
In a game that highlighted a heightened sense of emotion and physicality, the back-and-forth affair, which was tied 4-4 at halftime, continued late into the contest. But a string of tallies by the visiting Gators prevented the Cougars from full reimbursement in the rematch, dropping a close 12-10 decision Friday in Gilroy.
“We were up the whole game until late in the third, early fourth quarter until a couple of mental errors killed us,” Pirozzoli said. “We went down and couldn’t come back, unfortunately.”
Manny Avila paced the Cougars with a team-high four goals, both Patrick Mank and Brandon Kleder scored twice and Nickolas Gulan and DJ Campos posted goals for the Cougars who sit at 6-2 in their inaugural season.
“They played great. They were much more aggressive against that team this time around,” Pirozzoli said. “They definitely played better.”
Playing under the lights of Gilroy High’s Garcia Elder Sports Complex on Wednesday, the Cougars began their week with an 8-3 win over Aptos.
“I am definitely pleasantly surprised at how well they are doing,” Pirozzoli said. “I have given them the fundamentals but their are some kids who have worked hard on their own to get better.”
The Cougars have the week off before taking on an experienced Mitty squad April 11 at 4 p.m. at CHS.
