Laxcats top USC, make postseason

After getting surprised by No. 24 University of California San Diego and suddenly fighting for its playoff life, the men's lacrosse team responded by beating USC 12-5.

The No. 8 Laxcats rebounded against the Trojans after going 1-5 since beating then-No. 4 BYU in Provo on the Cougars' Alumni Weekend. In the last two weeks the Laxcats have dropped from a likely No. 2 seed in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League South Division to fighting to be one of the four teams to make it.

"If we would have lost we wouldn't have made the playoffs," said attackman Tom Ghaney.

The 10-6 upset at UCSD, which made the Trojan game all-important, started out with the Laxcats leading 2-0 early, but seven Arizona penalties, which forced the Laxcats to play a man down for eight minutes, slowed UA's momentum. The Tritons scored three goals in the first quarter and four in the second to distance themselves. Ghaney wasn't happy with how the Laxcats, who have been playing a starter or two short recently because of a rash of injuries, played early in the weekend.

"(It was) terrible, we started to play better at the end though," Ghaney said.

Thirteen Laxcats scored points against USC, highlighted by attackman Joseph Winter's six assists.

On Sunday the Laxcats lost to NCAA Division II power Whittier, 17-7. Jeems Lochridge led the way for Arizona against the Poets with three goals and two assists and attackman Greg Polheber had two goals.

Ghaney feels the Laxcats, who have seen the return of All-American Charlie Mink form a torn ACL recently, are getting back on track. Mink, who is playing just when the Laxcats are up a man, scored a goal at USC this weekend.

"We're getting there, we have a lot of work this week," Ghaney said.

On Saturday the Laxcats travel to No. 2 UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the playoffs.

Women's lax upsets No. 11 UCSB to secure postseason

With its playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the women's lacrosse team went 2-1 on the road last weekend highlighted by a five-goal win over No. 11 UC Santa Barbara.

On Saturday, No. 18 Arizona (5-7) opened its weekend by winning at Loyola Marymount 13-12, which it followed on the same day with a 13-8 win over No. 11 UCSB before losing to No. UCLA 10-6.

"In our game against UCSB we played really well," said senior tri-captain Heather Snow. "We actually played up to our potential."

With only the top four teams in their division going to the Western Women's Lacrosse League playoffs, UA needs to beat the Gauchos by four goals to top No. 13 ASU (5-7), who the Wildcats split with.

"It was amazing," Snow said. "We realized we had to beat them by four goals or more to make it to the playoffs. It is just awesome to beat them by that much."

The reason for the difference in the results is Arizona's head coach Jenner Lochridge. The team started working on double-teaming and a "big" change in midfield transition meant less turnovers, said Snow.

"I think one of the big differences is we have a coach," Snow said.

Up next for Arizona is the Western Women's Lacrosse League Final 8 playoffs, April 25 and 26 at UC Davis.

Men's rugby shifts gears to offseason workouts

Though the regular season is over and postseason out of the question, the men's rugby program has plenty going on.

On Saturday, Arizona will play in a seven-a-side rugby tournament Saturday ÷ the Kachina Sevens in Glendale, Ariz. In seven-a-side, there are seven players rather than 15, and players play for seven minute halves rather than 40, on the same field. Last year the Wildcats' varsity and JV teams scored 257 to their opponents' eight. The tournament is mostly club teams with UA, NAU and ASU the only university affiliated schools.

Additionally, Arizona will send 30 players to New Zealand for a five-match 19-day road trip on May 20. When UA first plays in Te Puke, near the Bay of Plenty, they will meet up with former Arizona coach John Cameron, who plays for the All Black, the Yankees of New Zealand rugby, the country which is the current rugby world power.

Former Arizona All-American Al Lakomskis, while competing for the United States, suffered a compound fracture on his right ankle. The USA was playing Sri Lanka, where the Americans finished third in the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens tournament.

"We know he'll be able to walk, presume he'll be able to run and pray he'll be able to play," said head coach Dave Sitton.

The current Wildcats also have 10 players who have been invited to try out for the United States National Collegiate Team.