High school lacrosse takes root in Sonoma Valley

High school girls lacrosse offers pick-up games in summer months.|

Lacrosse might be the fastest-growing sport among high school athletes in the North Bay. The sport – widely thought to be derived from a Native American game – is already quite popular in the Eastern U.S. and Canada, and many local high schools now have official teams, including several VVAL schools.

But in Sonoma, the game remains primarily a club sport. Sonoma Youth Lacrosse (SYL) was formed in 2017, with both boys and girls teams, and though there is not yet an official NSC high school team, many believe it’s only a matter of time.

The Sonoma Dragons Lacrosse high school girls team started off the 2019 season in February with five brand new players and nine returning girls. The team was added to Sonoma Youth Lacrosse this spring after previously playing under Petaluma Youth Lacrosse.

SYL currently hosts three girls teams from ages 6-12, and two boys teams from ages 6-10, in addition to the girl’s high school squad.

Although the high school team included eighth graders and players from seven different schools in the area, the girls grew close throughout the season and spent time together outside of practice at team-bonding activities.

The Dragons finished their season with 13 wins and 5 losses, placing third overall in the girl’s high school division consisting of 11 teams in the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association. They advanced all the way to the semifinals before being eliminated by the Elk Grove Gladiators.

Coaches Lou Biaggi and Kevin Labanowski and the team said goodbye to four seniors at the close of the season: Alexis Lage, Hannah Walton, Nathalie Reynosa and Josie Wade. But the promise of younger Sonoma girls joining the team keeps up the excitement for future seasons.

SYL is hosting pick-up games on Wednesday nights at Adele Harrison Middle School, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., for any girls interested in trying the sport. No equipment necessary, just a $35 US Lacrosse membership and mouth guard.

- Alexis Lage graduated from SVHS this year; she will be attending Cal Poly in the fall, where she hopes to continue playing lacrosse.

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