Girls' lacrosse league expands to Conejo
SCLA to field squads in Oak Park, Agoura and Newbury Park
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS- Jackie Adelsberg, 12, of Agoura Hills crouches down to catch the ball during a workout Monday afternoon. The Southern California Lacrosse Association has three new girls' teams in the Conejo Valley this year. The season gets underway March 2.

The Southern California Lacrosse Association is hoping the addition of three new teams in its girls' division can help spark a growing interest in the sport.

Last November, the SCLA added teams in Newbury Park, Oak Park and Agoura to compete in a girls' division that already included squads from the San Gabriel Valley, La Quinta and Temecula.

The three club teams feature players from grade school to high school. Celia Woods, the SCLA's girls' program coordinator, believes the addition of three new squads is a step in the right direction for the league.

"One of the top girls' lacrosse teams in the state, the Conejo Clash, went under after many (teams outside the area) joined CIF last June," Woods said.

"According to CIF rules, teams that are a part of CIF cannot compete against club teams during the season. When that happened, we lost most of our competition.

"When we found out the Clash would be no more, we approached the SCLA about forming three new teams in the girls' division. Right from the start, the SCLA was very receptive and helpful in creating these new teams," Woods said.

Carlyn Costello, who will play lacrosse at the University of Oregon in the fall and currently serves as an assistant on the Oak Park club team, was thrilled when she learned about the new teams.

"This just means lacrosse is growing, and my dream of having more girls in the area learn about the sport is coming true," Costello said. "It's a very exciting time."

Costello assists Rachel Breen, a member of the Cal Lutheran women's club team, in coaching the Oak Park girls.

Lauren Robertson, a former goalie for the UC Davis club team, is the head coach for the Newbury Park squad, while Pepperdine University club members Alison Brittain and Annie McKinley run the Agoura squad.

"This is huge step for girls' lacrosse," McKinley said. "When I was their age there weren't any leagues or summer camps. It's great that there's now a league for these kids to learn the game."

Robertson said her team includes experienced players as well as girls picking up a lacrosse stick for the first time.

"I have everyone from sixthgraders to seniors in high school on my team," Robertson said. "It can be tough because the seniors are on a completely different social level than the sixth-graders.

"Still, I'm surprised how quickly these girls that didn't know each other have bonded. We've been working well as a team, and the newbies are picking up the game very fast."

Last Friday at practice, McKinley focused on teaching her team the basics.

"The majority of the girls have never even seen a college lacrosse game," McKinley said. "The most important thing right now is that these kids enjoy playing lacrosse and want to come back."

McKinley said the girls' lacrosse game is different than it is for boys.

"Well, for one, the sticks are completely different," McKinley said. "I would say that the girls' game is more about finesse and is more elegant than boys' lacrosse, which is more rough and brutal."

While some kids are just learning the sport, Agoura players such as Talia Fiance, 12, are glad to have experienced club players coaching them this season. Fiance has played lacrosse for three years.

"It's pretty cool being coached by two girls that play at Pepperdine," Fiance said. "It's cool to think that if we work hard enough and listen to them, we could play in college, too."

Robertson is hoping that soon enough, more girls' in the area will love the game as much as Fiance does.

"This is a big step forward for girls' lacrosse," Robertson said. "Boys' lacrosse seems to be exploding in the area, and we're hoping to get the same type of exposure now for girls.

"By having three teams, it shows that there is indeed enough interest to potentially have the girls' get CIF access in the Conejo Valley. Sooner or later, parents and administrators are going to see the interest. It's fun to be a part of all of this from the start."