Carlmont High School’s Scots varsity boys lacrosse team fell to the Menlo-Atherton Bears 9-2 at home on May 2, after a close first half turned into a second-half run that pulled the game out of reach.
The Scots kept things tight early, scoring on a man-up opportunity and staying within reach through most of the first half. Carlmont matched Menlo-Atherton’s physical play, but the Bears closed the half with a three-goal run to take control heading into halftime.
“I think it was very hard fought, the first half was pretty close, and the physicality we showed in the second half was a very big improvement,” said Xavior Piro, Carlmont’s goalie.
The matchup carried extra tension going in, with the teams already familiar with each other from past seasons.
“I don’t really like these guys. I’ve played them six times on the varsity level now; their conduct sometimes doesn’t speak to the way you should be playing lacrosse,” Piro said.
Menlo-Atherton had a different perspective going into the match, aiming to stay focused despite its strong confidence.
“We knew we were gonna win, but we still played hard because if you think or act like you already won the game, then you’re not gonna win it,” said Marco Pilascious, Menlo Atherton’s attacker. “I knew when they scored the first goal, even though we’re down 1-0, I knew we were still gonna win.”
Carlmont stayed competitive early, but the Bears took a lead in the first half and carried that momentum into the second, scoring six more points and pushing far ahead of the Scots.
In the second half, Menlo-Atherton consistently attacked from the crease, turning quick inside looks into goals and stretching the lead further, ultimately finishing the game 9-2.
“Nobody on their team is better than any of our starters,” Pilascious added.
Menlo-Atherton head coach Steve Kryger said that the key was staying disciplined after building momentum early.
“We came out and executed. When we stay aggressive and don’t slow down, that’s when we’re at our best,” Kryger said.
Despite the loss, Carlmont head coach Todd Irwin was proud of the team, noting that its performance in the first half displayed what they were capable of, but a few slip-ups after halftime cost them the game.
“Very proud of the guys who played an amazing first half against a very strong team in the league and had our number most times over the year,” Irwin said. “The third quarter was rough. They figured out a few of the things we were doing and took advantage of it.”
Regardless of Carlmont’s inconsistency, it is looking forward to the rest of the season and the rematch with the Bears on May 5 as they aspire to redeem themselves.
“It’s been a struggle to find goals sometimes; it’s been a struggle to find clears sometimes, but besides that, I think the growth we’ve shown is pretty tremendous,” Piro said.
