University High lacrosse faces sanctions after forfeiting semifinal to attend prom

The University High boys’ lacrosse team didn’t have enough players for its City Section semifinal match on Friday night against Palisades because the school’s prom was the same night and players chose the prom instead. The school forfeited the match.

City Section Commissioner Vicky Lagos said the match time could not be changed, and now University is facing a $100 fine and a ban from next year’s playoffs under City Section rules.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District released the following statement: “Upon conclusion of the regular season on Monday April 21, the University High School lacrosse coach was informed that the team would be scheduled to square off just days later against Palisades High on that Friday (4/25) for a playoff game. Team and school officials, knowing that the 25th was the same day as the prom — a date that had been set more than a year in advance — requested that the game be rescheduled, but that request was denied. As a result, when four seniors opted to attend prom, the team had to forfeit.”

The lacrosse finals will be played on Wednesday at El Camino Real, with the boys and girls finals matching El Camino Real against Palisades.