CdM boys’ lacrosse falls to Mater Dei in battle of unbeatens

Spectators packed the north sideline end to end for a showdown between premier boys’ lacrosse programs on Saturday afternoon at Mater Dei High School.

The hosting Monarchs got out to an early lead, then pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 14-8 win over Corona del Mar in a riveting nonleague affair.

Evan Curry and Nate Chu each recorded a hat-trick for Mater Dei (8-0), which entered the week as the No. 2-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll.

“I think when it gets down to a game like this with two powerhouses, it just comes down to really mental toughness at the end,” Mater Dei coach Johnny Rodriguez said. “I told my boys in the beginning, ‘It’s not about how physically tough we are. It’s about what’s our breaking point?’

“… The point that I was trying to make to them was we can’t break. We have all of each other to pick us up. There’s no breaking. There’s no getting tired. There’s no getting frustrated. There’s no losing focus.”

Mater Dei jumped out to a 4-2 lead after the first quarter, and with two more goals from Chu and Grant Portillo, the Monarchs extended their advantage to 6-2 just 22 seconds in the second quarter.

Corona del Mar (5-1), the top-ranked team in Division 1, clamped down defensively the rest of the period as it tried to claw its way back into the game. The deficit stood at 6-4 at halftime, courtesy of some great execution by the Sea Kings with the clock winding down.

Logan Ip served as the trigger man from behind the goal when play resumed from a dead-ball situation with two seconds remaining, and he got the ball in front to Lucas Newton, who was able to beat the buzzer.

“It was a great play in a big-time moment,” CdM coach G.W. Mix said. “Those kids have made a lot of those, and they’ll make a lot more.”

Monmouth-bound Ty Caffarelli had three goals to pace CdM. He nearly tied the score in the closing moments of the third quarter, but his bid hit the crossbar and stayed out, keeping the Monarchs ahead 9-8 going to the fourth quarter.

The Sea Kings cut the Monarchs’ lead down to one goal three times in the third quarter, but they never got the score back to even.

Success on draws by Lucas De La Paz kept Mater Dei in possession immediately following goals, which aided in thwarting a CdM comeback. The Monarchs scored three goals on fastbreaks that came off face-offs.

“It’s a big confidence booster,” De La Paz said of his team scoring off the draw. “It really gets the blood flowing. That’s usually how a lot of our runs start, so it’s really fun.”

De La Paz said he was also motivated by recent history between the teams, remembering an overtime loss to the Sea Kings last season.

Griffin Dwyer, Tristin Jewell and Portillo each scored two goals for Mater Dei, and Andrew Crosby and Conner Dettloff had one goal apiece.

Newton had two goals and two assists for CdM. Ip added a goal and three assists. Scott Westrick and Nicolas Peloso each scored once for the Sea Kings.

“Hopefully, we’ll see them in the playoffs, for the championship,” Caffarelli said. “I think our team’s going to go back Monday with a different mindset, and we’ll come in and work hard, and hopefully we’ll see them again.”

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