April 29, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Menlo boys rally for big lacrosse win

by Keith Peters

ate Calhoun had mixed feelings after watching his Menlo boys' lacrosse team rally to defeat host Menlo-Atherton, 10-7, Wednesday.

On one hand, Calhoun had to be pleased that the Knights rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the third quarter.

On the other hand, Calhoun knew his team could play better - like it did the first time the Bears and Knights met with Menlo coming away with a dominant 11-2 victory.

"It's tough to be too complimentary of my team right now," Calhoun said with a slight grimace.

The important thing, though, is that Menlo kept its Peninsula Athletic League record perfect at 8-0 while improving to 16-1. Good teams find ways to win, and that's what the Knights did Wednesday while opening a two-match lead (in the loss column) to Menlo-Atherton (7-2, 9-4).

"Even if we only play well in spurts, we can make things happen," Calhoun said.

For nearly three quarters, however, it was Menlo-Atherton that made things happen. The Bears bottled up Menlo's attack with a new zone defense and took an aggressive approach on offense to grab a 4-2 lead in the third quarter on an goal by Eric Fowle. When teammate Bassy Turner gave M-A a 5-4 lead just before the end of the quarter, momentum appeared to be in the Bears' favor.

Menlo, however, opened the fourth quarter with six unanswered goals.

"Thank you guys for finally starting to play," Calhoun told his team, after Colin Burke, Jack Miller and Matt Moone had scored for an 8-5 lead. Devon Arscott, Matt Burke and Miller finished the scoring outburst that finished the Bears.

"They played an extraordinary game," Calhoun said of the Bears. "I was not happy with (the way Menlo played) the first 3 1/2 quarters. "They (M-A) ran a different zone against us. They just packed everyone in front of the goal and forced us to take outside shots."

That forced Menlo out of his normal game, which is passing and moving. Calhoun said that's what his players began doing in the fourth quarter as the Knights built a 10-5 lead with three minutes to play.

M-A goalie Matt Weber had 15 saves in a standout effort. Fowle scored twice to lead the Bears. Miller, Moone, Arscott and Wiley Birkhofer each scored two goals while Miller contributed seven assists.

Girls lacrosse

Gunn got five goals from senior Kate Kosco in a 15-8 win over Leland. The Titans improved to 9-0 in the PAL (10-0 overall). Gunn holds a three-game lead (in the loss column) over second-place Menlo (7-3, 9-6), which remained mathematically alive for the league title with a 15-3 win over Sacred Heart Prep. Molly Lapolla scored four goals for the Knights.

Golf

Sam Chavez of Woodside Priory shot a 6-over-par 76 at Menlo Country Club to earn individual honors at the Private Schools Athletic League championship tournament. Chavez advances to the CCS regional tournament, along with Sacred Heart Prep. The Gators moved on after winning the regular-season title.

Michael McMahon of SHP was second to Chavez in the tournament, shooting a 79, while SHP's Wes Payne was third with an 81.

Softball

Menlo maintained its hold on second and Menlo-Atherton its hold on third in the PAL Ocean Division standings following impressive winds in the rain on Wednesday.

Menlo (7-1, 12-5) got a two-hit, complete-game effort from junior pitcher Ali Lycette and Anna Wipfler scored on an error as the Knights prevailed, 1-0, over visiting Sequoia.

M-A senior pitcher Danielle Kielty did just about everything in the Bears' 12-2 win over host Jefferson. Kielty pitched a complete-game one-hitter, striking out eight and driving in four runs. Kielty had a home run and triple. Natalie Chladek added three hits and three RBI for the Bears (6-2, 8-6).

In the SCVAL El Camino Division, Gunn senior Jill Klausner suffered her first loss of the season in a 1-0 setback to visiting Santa Clara. Klausner (6-1) limited the Bruins to just three hits, but her teammates were held to four, two by Stephanie Lacek. The Titans fell to 3-2 in league (8-4 overall).

Earlier in the week, Klausner pitched a two-hitter in an 8-0 win over Fremont in a makeup game.

Palo Alto (2-4, 5-11) committed an uncharacteristic five errors and suffered a 6-4 loss to host Wilcox.

In the West Bay Athletic League, Castilleja junior Alex Chang-Graham pitched her second no-hitter in as many weeks as the Gators defeated visiting Mercy-San Francisco, 7-0. Chang-Graham struck out 12 as Castilleja improved to a league-leading 5-0 (9-3 overall).

Swimming

The Menlo boys (6-0, 7-1) moved a step closer to wrapping up the PAL Bay Division dual-meet title with an impressive 107-60 victory over visiting Aragon on Tuesday. Travis Read won the 100 fly and 100 back and swam on two winning relays to spark the Knights.

The Menlo girls (6-1, 6-2) dominated Aragon, as well, with a 110-60 win in the Knights' final home meet. Kim Krueger (200 free, 500 free) and Maryann Hiller (200 IM, 100 breast) sparked Menlo.

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, the Gunn boys (3-2, 4-2) suffered a shocking 114-79 loss to host Monta Vista on Wednesday as the Matadors swept all three relays. The Gunn girls (4-1, 5-1) earned a split on the day with a 101-85 win. Freshmen Naomi Glassman (50 free, 100 fly) and Casey Barnes-Waychus (200 IM, 500 free) led Gunn.

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