Lacrosse team eliminated in quarterfinals following three consecutive one-goal games

By Alex Dinh

The lacrosse team lost to Temecula Valley High School 11-10 in the quarterfinals of Division II CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) playoffs May 6, ending the season with a 9-8 overall record and a 3-3 record in the Mission League. The team lost in the semi-finals of the Mission League tournament to Loyola High School 20-5 on Apr. 22.

The squad beat Peninsula High School 6-5 and Beckman High School 7-6 in the first two rounds of CIF playoffs. Attackman Vincenzo Rabizadeh ’25 said he enjoyed playing in three consecutive playoff games that were decided by one goal.

“The close games were some of the most fun games we’ve had,”

Rabizadeh said. “Every game was a little bit different, [and] we improved after every one. Each time we fought, it was amazing to be with all my brothers on the team and to stand side by side to fight for one cause, to get one more game and see how far we can make it.”

The team started the season 1-3 before finishing with a record of 9-8. Rabizadeh said the team learned how to play as more of a unit over the course of the season.

“One of the biggest things we learned to do is play as a team,” Rabizadeh said. “We started the season very cohesively, [and] as multiple individuals on the field at once. As the season went on, I think we improved in [terms of] trusting each other, trusting our coaches and being able to bring a different attitude into our games. I think that’s something that greatly helped us as the season progressed.”

Goalkeeper Rohan Mehta ’23 said he witnessed significant improvement across the team throughout the season.

“It was really nice seeing all the younger players develop, especially playing goalie, [since] I can see everything that’s happening,” Mehta said. “Seeing the improvement from people like Ben Simmons ’26 and Matthew Murray ’24 from the first whistle of the season to the last game, I’m really proud of all the work they’ve put in and the commitment everyone put in to the season.”

Mehta, who is committed to Emerson College, said his four years on the team have prepared him to continue to play lacrosse at the collegiate level.

“It’s been an amazing four years,” Mehta said. “I had an amazing time on the team, and it’s my time on the lacrosse team has prepared me to play in college and at the next level.” and achieve a personal record.

“ This season was very challenging for me,” Rakfeldt said. “I had a broken foot throughout most of [this season] and wasn’t able to accomplish all that I had hoped to. Going into my jump my main thought was that I needed to clear this bar to prove to myself that I [could] do it.”

Rakfeldt said her goal for future seasons is to make continual improvements to her performance in pole vaulting.

“My main goal for this year was to break 13, so going into finals it was definitely on my mind,” Thompson said. “I mostly put pressure on myself [going into the meet] because I hadn’t [reached my goal] the entire year and was becoming increasingly frustrated with myself. So making that bar was like lifting a weight off my shoulder.”

Thompson said she advises younger pole vaulters to have patience with themselves and to persevere through any difficulties that they face.

“I would say that results take time and to not lose sight of your goals when things don’t go a certain way,” Thompson said. “It took me almost 3 years to learn to be patient with myself and allow myself to make mistakes within the sport, and that mindset is what ultimately [allowed me to be successful].”

Rakfeldt, who qualified for CIF Masters with a lifetime best of 11 feet and nine inches in pole vaulting, said it was a challenging season due to a foot injury but that she was determined to overcome adversity

“A goal I have is not only about reaching a certain height but about improving in one way or another,” Rakfeldt said. “In a sport like pole vault where every meet ends with a miss, it is easy to get cauwght up in what you didn’t accomplish, what height you didn’t reach, but it is important to always enjoy the little victories that come your way.”

Fleischer qualified for CIF masters with 21 feet and 10.5 inches in the long jump. He said his mind becomes completely focused when he is competing in his event.

“Long jump is a type of [sport where] when you’re in the process of doing it, your mind kind of goes blank and you’re just running and two seconds later, you’re in the sand and you have no idea what went on,” Fleischer said.

Fleischer said continuous advice from his coach has helped him to reach his goals over the course of his high school career.

“I feel like the track and field journey was one that was definitely more than one year,” Fleischer said. “Just trusting the process and listening to [Head Coach of Track and Field Jonas Koolsbergen’s] coaching points, as difficult as it may be sometimes [is what it took to achieve this distance].”