Royal, Oaks Christian fall in CIF-SS girls lacrosse quarterfinals

Royal High girls lacrosse’s perfect season came to an end in the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 quarterfinals Thursday night in El Segundo.

Host El Segundo scored six goals in the third quarter to break open a one-goal game and end the Highlanders’ section-best 18-game winning streak, 11-5.

Royal (18-1) made 17 turnovers on a frustrating night.

“Things just didn’t go our way,” said Royal High coach Cathe Utterback. “There were a lot of turnovers from both ways. They were the team that turned those turnovers into goals.”

El Segundo held Royal star Lauren Reed to one goal, one assist and four ground balls.

“It was unfortunate,” Utterback said. “We just never found our rhythm offensively. They did their homework and kept Lauren from doing what she does.”

Annabelle Isaacs had two goals and five draw controls, Kate Clouser and Sammy Kern scored goals and Hurley Casilli and Autumn Washburn had assists for Royal.

El Segundo reached the Division 2 finals a year ago, falling to St. Margaret’s 11-8.

“They were very prepared,” Utterback said. “They’re a well coached team and they want something that they didn’t get last year.”

El Segundo led 3-2 at the half and opened up a 9-4 lead after three quarters.

Glendale 10, Oaks Christian 9

Oaks Christian’s reign as Division 3 champion came to an end in a quarterfinal loss on the road Thursday.

Julia Forsythe had three goals and four assists, but Oaks Christian fell to host Glendale, 10-9

“It just wasn’t our day,” said Oaks Christian coach Courtney Lindsay. “We didn’t play our best, but we also didn’t play horrible.

“We had a couple calls that didn’t go our way in crucial times.”

Addie Bernd and Addie Davis had two goals apiece and Gracie Penenberg and Leighton Spruill added goals for the Lions (9-7).

Oaks Christian had two late chances to force overtime, but couldn’t convert.

Lindsay praised Glendale for limiting the Lions’ typical success in the center circle.

“Draw control are a big thing,” Lindsay said. “Especially in the girls game, if you win the draw, you win the game.”

“Normally we dominate a little bit more.”

Joe Curley covers lacrosse for The Star. He can be reached at joe.curley@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcspreps on Twitter/X, Instagram/Threads, Facebook, Bluesky and TikTok.