After a two-week break, the Malibu High School Sharks lacrosse team is looking to score a few more wins in “the fastest game on two feet” during league play.
Malibu lacrosse team coach Mark DeOliveira said his squad has shown improvement and will look to add wins to their 2-4 record, beginning with their home contest against the Brentwood Eagles on April 14.
“We are looking to build on what we have been working on all season,” said DeOliveira. “We have a lot of younger, inexperienced players so a lot of the preseason was dedicated to stick work and general lacrosse concepts. Once the games started, we really started hammering home game-specific concepts and strategies. We basically used those six games to fine-tune and develop in-game play.”
DeOliveira said due to the Shark’s thin, 16-man roster, it is sometimes hard to practice game-like scenarios.
“Those first six games weren’t practice, but it really helped us see what things will be like,” he said. “Hopefully, we can use the second half of the season as its own season because it is all league games.”
Malibu began practicing on Monday after having the first week of spring break off. Malibu’s last game was a 9-4 loss to the Thacher Toads on March 26. The game against the Eagles will be their first game in the Gold Coast League this season.
The Sharks other Gold Coast League opponents include Sierra Canyon and Viewpoint. The Sharks will face Brentwood and Sierra Canyon twice and Viewpoint three times before the end of the season in May.
Malibu started the season on March 9 with a 13-3 win over Santa Barbara. Two days later, they were beat 19-1 by Newbury Park. Malibu bounced back with an 11-8 win over Laguna Blanca on March 13. The Sharks then proceeded to drop games to Cate, Oak Park and Thacher.
DeOliveira, who is coaching his fourth season in Malibu, said the seniors lead the team. The senior leaders include midfielders Winston Churchill and Noah Gorelick and defensemen Ethan Krase, Michael Rivetti and William Tosdevin.
DeOliveira said Churchill and Gorelick are the Sharks’ “do-it-all” players and “ironmen.”
“Winston Churchill is a midfielder, but, when he needs a break, he will play attack,” he said. “Winston is our primary face-off guy.”
“Noah Gorelick has been really great this year,” DeOliveira added. “His first three seasons, he played attackman. Now, he is playing midfield and, because of the injuries we have had, he has been playing defense. He has also been doing face-offs at times.”
Krase, Rivetti and Tosdevin are the leaders of Malibu’s defense. DeOliveira said all three are shining by either playing better than ever before or playing hard, in spite of injuries.
DeOliveira said four-year starter and senior defenseman Elliot Quartz has been out all season due to a torn ligament in his hand.
“Our guys have really stepped up and taken over for him,” he said. “He is our most experienced guy on the varsity level. It hurts to have him hurt, but I think we are going to get him back for league play, which is great.”
DeOliveira also said junior goalie Kami Eshai has developed tremendously this season.
“We are very confident with him back there,” he said.
DeOliveira said the seniors, who are mostly on their second year of varsity, and the brand new underclassmen are picking up lacrosse concepts a lot faster this year than in seasons past.
DeOliveira said Malibu’s defense is beginning to play together as a unit. He said over the spring break, the Sharks are focusing on jelling together on offense.
“The past couple of defensive efforts have really been there,” DeOliveira said. “Now, with the offense, it is really time to bring them to the party.”
More wins are important.
“If we win the league, we have a shot of making the playoffs,” DeOliveira said.
