As of now, Aliso Niguel’s girls lacrosse season is in session and has begun their 2024 season with a strong start. The team currently has seven wins and only one loss so far.
Their first game of the season was played on home territory against Valencia High on Feb. 13. Aliso Niguel absolutely dominated their opponent as they won the game with ease and an ultimate score of 18-1.
In a surprising coincidence, the team went on to compete against Valencia again seven games later on March 8, and this time, on their territory. On this day, they won by a score of 18 to one again.
But taking it back to before this game, these lacrosse athletes also conquered a variety of other opposing high schools in addition to Valencia.
They won on Feb. 22 to Esperanza with a score of 14 to five, on Feb. 27 to Beckman with a score of 14 to 12, Feb. 29 to Mission Viejo with a score of 12 to two.
In the month of March, the players won on March 6 to Capistrano Valley with a score of 16-4 and again the next day on March 7 to Dana Hills with a score of 17-3.
During all that victory, they did lose a game on one occasion to Woodbridge High. The game took place on Feb. 20 on their fields and resulted in a final score of 9-7.
Leading the varsity team this year is head coach Bob Mezeul with the help of assistant coach, Richard Welling, and team captain, Ruby Reynolds (12).
Reynolds states that, “My favorite thing about my coach is how hard he pushes us. He always wants us to do better and encourages us to be the best athletes and players possible.
He treats us like his daughters and we know he is hard on us because he wants us to be the best we can.”
This is currently Reynolds’ third lacrosse season and second varsity season. She plays as the team’s low defense and loves being captain “because the girls on my team are the best. Each one of them works so hard and they are a joy to be around.”
Another notable player on the team is Zoey Roth (11), who plays for the team as an attacker.
She’s been playing the sport for about eight years and states that this season “I feel like I’m getting much better at driving to the goal and either scoring or getting assists than I was last season.”
With all that, these players have already accomplished, the journey has still just begun with League not beginning until March 19 against Trabuco Hills with many more highs and lows on its way.
Players still have goals that they want to achieve this year.
Reynolds stated that her goal “is to make sure each of the girls on my team feel like they belong and that they are needed,” and Roth stated that she wants to “get a left handed goal.”
The girls lacrosse team is still working hard to continue their success and achieve higher aspirations.
