La Costa Canyon Mavericks

May 01, 2012 10:16 pm • By TERRY MONAHAN tmonahan@nctimes.com

CARMEL VALLEY -- All Aaron Loy was trying to do was offer a screen for La Costa Canyon High teammate Brendan Gaughan.

But when Torrey Pines double-teamed Brendan Gaughan, Loy slipped back toward the goal and got the pass.

Turning toward the goal, the junior attacker let a shot fly as he was fouled and knocked down.

Though he never saw what happened, bedlam ensued as Loy’s shot hit the net to hand the top-ranked Mavericks’ boys lacrosse team an 8-7 victory in triple overtime over Torrey Pines on the Falcons’ field Tuesday night.

“None of our plays had worked to that point, so I guess it was about time one of them worked,’’ LCC coach Jesse Foss said.

The goal, which came with 3:29 left in the third extra period, also clinched the Avocado League title.

“I never saw the goal,’’ Loy said. "I put in the mixer and shot the ball as I went down.

“I heard my teammates start yelling and screaming and running at me. That’s when I knew it went in.”

With a 9-7 win April 6 against the Falcons, La Costa Canyon (18-1, 9-0) swept its rival just as it did in 2011.

However, in last year’s semifinals, Torrey Pines upset the Mavericks and went on to claim the CIF San Diego Section Division I championship.

“That’s been a reoccurring nightmare all year for us,” said Loy, who scored two goals and added an assist. "We beat them twice in league and lost the only game that counted.

“After that game last year ended, at our place, the seniors were distraught. I never want to see that again.”

La Costa Canyon gave up the game’s first goal but scored three straight goals to end the first quarter with a 3-1 lead.

Lucas Gradinger opened the second quarter with his second goal of the game for Torrey Pines (13-4, 7-2), but the Mavs answered with goals by Ben Keen and Tom Riis for a 5-2 lead.

Sean Doyle’s goal just before halftime started a three-goal run that tied the game 5-5 in the third quarter. Gradinger’s third goal with 56 seconds left in the game tied it.

Gaughan scored to give the Mavs a 6-5 lead only to have Zach Zien score two goals for a 7-6 lead for the Falcons.

Loy’s first goal, with 3:32 to play, tied it for the fourth time at 7-7.

“Officially, there was no panic at 7-6,‘’ Loy said. "I had faith in our defense that we’d get it done."

La Costa Canyon kept the Falcons off the scoreboard for the final 14 minutes, 56 seconds.

LCC goalie Bryan Cooper had eight saves, none more astounding than one in the waning seconds of the second overtime when he stopped a shot from point-blank range in front of the net.

Then Loy finally ended the league title hunt.

“We were struggling in the second half,‘’ Foss said. "We rushed it a bit. We didn’t finish off shots.

“Sometimes our offense clicks and sometimes it doesn’t.”

The way Loy figures it, history will repeat itself and the Mavericks will face Torrey Pines once again in the postseason.

He’s hoping for a different outcome.

“Last year’s playoff loss will be on our minds from here on out until we see them again,” Loy said.