Laxcats beat UCLA to open postseason
Seniors Dan Price, Dan McCarthy and Phil Guiliano will be able to continue their UA lacrosse careers for at least one more game, as the UA Laxcats defeated UCLA 18-12 in the opening round of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League playoffs.
Price scored four goals and combined with McCarthy for five assists.
Price said he is starting to realize that he is coming to the end of his lacrosse career.
"It is great that we are able to advance to the semi-finals," he said. "It is a good way for me to end things here, and a great way for the younger players to learn about the playoffs."
Guiliano anchored the defense which kept freshman goalie Greg Parkington from seeing too many open shots from the Bruins.
Parkington started for the first time of the season and while he looked inexperienced at times, he impressed head coach Mickey-Miles Felton.
"I thought Greg did a solid job today," Felton said. "I wanted to give him a start to see how he would respond."
Starting goalie Jesse Carlaftes will be back in the net when the Laxcats take on Sonoma State Friday in San Francisco.
UA got started fast as the Laxcats jumped out to a 5-1 first quarter lead, but headed into halftime with an 8-5 advantage. In the second half, UA led by as much as eight before the game ended 18-12.
Freshmen Matt Green (5G/1A) and Blane Lochridge (3G/1A) contributed to the victory.
Women's lacrosse reaches tournament championship
Any athlete will say sleep is a necessity if one wants to play well, but no sleep doesn't mean someone has no chance to be competitive.
The UA women's lacrosse team had a whopping five hours of sleep before their 6 a.m. game Saturday at UC-Davis in the opener of the Western States lacrosse tournament.
"This was a real tough road trip," senior defender Maren Henley said. "We got in real late Friday night. We played really well given the circumstances."
Arizona (3-4) did do rather well, advancing to Sunday's championship game before falling to the Laxon club team 9-3.
The tournament was exhibition only and did not count toward UA's record, but the Wildcats did manage to defeat league rival UC-Santa Barbara 6-5 to reach the championship game, something Henley said was important.
"Beating Santa Barbara again was a big step for us," she said. "It was a real close game and we held on."
Arizona also defeated the Redhook club team 12-5 Saturday while losing to UC-San Diego 7-6 and to Laxon 6-2 that same day in pool play.
"We just learned if we put our minds to it we can beat any team, any time," junior attacker Erin Bradbury said.
- Chris Jackson
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