It's Lights Out for Lacrosse Competition, Stadium

It was lights out for the football stadium's main lights mid-game at Redondo Union High School—and for most of Redondo Union's competition—on Monday's lacrosse-intensive afternoon. Athletes played four lacrosse games, and Redondo Union won three of them.

Right in the middle of a play between Redondo Union's and El Dorado's junior varsity boys squads, the stadium went dark.

During the 15-minute blackout—which was due to a scheduling mistake—only the scoreboard and other lights off of the playing field lit the stadium.

“It kind of killed El Dorado's momentum, and we came out and scored a couple of quick goals that helped us,” said Alexis Goeller, Redondo Union's JV coach.

The interruption was a turning point for the game's players. While the El Dorado coach chose to keep the team moving by running drills up and down the width of the field, the Sea Hawks huddled around a single spot on the field, waiting for lights to be turned back on.

The strategy of conserving energy paid off, with Redondo Union eventually winning 9-5.

“We started slow, but I was proud of the guys because they finished strong,” Goeller said.

El Dorado's JV coach declined to comment on the game, citing time constraints.

Not to be outdone, the girls lacrosse teams swept both JV and varsity squad games.

The varsity girls squad took the game 21-7, smashing the competition from La Cañada.

“I think this is the best that they have played the whole entire season—everything came together, everything we've been working for all season,” said assistant coach Amanda Riggin of Redondo Union's varsity squad.

“I think we played the best game of our season,” said senior varsity member Julia Denney, who is heading to a college team to play lacrosse.

“I don't meant to toot my own horn—I never do, I swear—but I think I played one of my best games,” said Denney. “I don't know, I was just feeling it today.”

The JV squad also did well, with a 14-3 win against La Cañada's team.

The girls lacrosse team also honored seniors during the Senior Recognition Night event. The event—which lasted about 10 minutes between games—served as a short but genuine reminder of team camaraderie. Teammates announced each senior being honored, and though some forget their lines and giggled through the awkward moment, others said the soon-to-graduate team members had become family over the years.

The only loss of the night came from Redondo Union's varsity boys lacrosse team, which came from a 6-6 tie to eventually lose 7-10. Varsity coach Phil Comito pinned the loss on not gaining initial possession enough times.