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SANTEE (5-9-10) — Santana High School scored just 27 seconds into Saturday's (May 8) game, snapping a 7-game losing streak after whipping Valhalla, 11-3, in the consolation semifinals of the Grossmont Conference Tournament, held at Santee Community Stadium.

MATT DOYLE tallied an unassisted goal in the opening minute, as Santana would race to a 6-0 halftime advantage. The Sultans’ (4-13) last win also came against the Norsemen on Apr. 12.

"We played very well on both sides of the ball and were able to dominate possession time," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY.

The Sultans captured the ground ball war (62-38) and outshot Valhalla (44-14).

GARRETT GRENINGER led Santana in the face-off category, with Santana winning 12 of the 16 match-ups. SAMMY ROSAS, CHAZ KONARSKA, and DAVID WOERNER were all credited by Vickery for strong play on defense and in the clearing game.

Santana will next face Monte Vista on Wednesday's (May 12) 5th-place game. The game will be held at Monarchs Stadium in Spring Valley .

Santana — Goals: Kyle Baird 3, Matt Doyle 2, Jesse Roberto 2, Roy Richards 2, Garrett Greninger 1, Derek Baird 1 Assists: Derek Baird 2, Kyle Baird 1, Dakota Hitson 1, Garrett Greninger 1, Garet Webster 1 Goalies: Ruben Rosas, 0 goals allowed, 2 saves (1st half); Cody Smith, 3 goals allowed, 5 saves (2nd half)/

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SPRING VALLEY (4-17-10) — Santana High lost its share of first place in the Grossmont Conference after host Monte Vista out-scored the Sultans by a 3-1 count in each of the first two quarters, taking a 10-5 decision Wednesday (Apr. 14) at Monarchs Stadium.

The Sultans made a second-half run, moving to within two goals, but Monte Vista countered with a breakaway goal after intercepting a failed clearing pass to re-establish control early in the fourth quarter.

"It was a very exciting game to watch – very fast and physical – but we allowed too many scoring chances," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY.

ROY RICHARDS registered a 3-goal hat trick for the Sultans.

Santana — Goals: Roy Richards 3, Kyle Baird 1, Matt Doyle 1. Assists: Kyle Baird 1, Garet Webster 1, Garrett Greninger 1, Chaz Konarska 1. Goalies: Ruben Rosas 6 goals allowed, 4 saves (1st half); Cody Smith 4 goals allowed, 4 saves (2nd half).

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SANTEE (3-25-10) — Midfielder SPENCER LOVE registered the tying and go-ahead goals minutes apart in the fourth quarter Wednesday (Mar. 24), propelling Santana to a 5-4 non-league lacrosse victory over visiting University City.

The decision avenged an earlier loss to the Centurions, giving the rising Sultans their second win in three outings.

Trailing 4-3, Love took a feed from TIM SCHULTZ to get the team even, then he scored again three minutes later on an unassisted effort to give Santana its first lead since the early minutes.

University City took several shots in the closing moments, but the Sultans’ defense hung on to preserve the win.

"The entire defense played outstanding as they dominated in one-on-one situations," said head coach ADAM VICKERY. "Sammy Rosas and Chaz Konarska were a big help in the clearing game by making great moves with the ball and good outlet passes."

Also credited with allowing just limited touches by University City 's top scorers were JESSE ROBERTO, JACOB GENSCHAW and Schultz,

Santana also held the upper hand in collecting ground balls (65-33) to gain position to fuel the comeback.

"Many of those ground balls should have belonged to UC, but they went to us because we hustled and never gave up," added the coach. "As I told the team at the end of the game, it was a great team victory."

Early on, ROY RICHARDS scored twice in the first quarter, including a nice shot from 10 yards out to open the scoring. Attackman MATT DOYLE also scored on a bounce shot in the second period.

However, University City answered each time to tie the contest all three times, then tallied again to take a 4-3 halftime lead, a score which would hold until the fourth quarter.

Santana — Goals: Roy Richards 2, Spencer Love 2, Matt Doyle 1. Assists: Tim Schultz 1, Jacob Genschaw 1. Goalies: Ruben Rosas, 4 goals allowed, 2 saves (1st half); Cody Smith, 0 goals allowed, 4 saves (2nd half).

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CHULA VISTA (3-22-10) — Every coach in almost every sport knows about the Game Day Blues when you play on Monday, especially with a young team.

"And we came out of the gate very sluggish," noted Santana High lacrosse coach ADAM VICKERY of the Monday (Mar. 22) match in South Bay. "And Hilltop took advantage of it."

The host Lancers carried a shutout into the fourth quarter, building a 5-0 lead en route to a 6-2 victory over the Sultans.

JACON GENSCHAW registered a pair of fourth-period goals for Santana (1-5), one assisted by GARET WEBSTER, but they only proved to be cosmetic in a disappointing showing.

"Unfortunately, we didn't play with a lot of passion until the fourth quarter," added the coach. We're getting better each and every day, but we have to get to the point where we are playing hard and smart for the entire game, not just fractions."

Santana – Goals: Jacob Genschaw 2. Assists: Garet Webster 1. Goalies: Ruben Rosas: 4 goals allowed, 5 saves; Cody Smith: 2 goals allowed, 10 saves.

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SANTEE (3-20-10) — For the second straight contest, Santana High scored right after the opening faceoff, but this time the goal held up in Friday's (Mar. 19) 10-8 triumph over visiting Chula Vista at Santee Community Stadium.

ROY RICHARD fired a hockey-style goal just 23 seconds into the game, firing a ball sitting on the ground past the Spartans goalie. For Richards, it was the first of his four goals, while teammate DEREK BAIRD also posted a hat trick with three tallies in the team's first victory in five starts.

After Chula Vista answered with an extra-man goal, Baird countered by dodging past three defenders for a clear shot and a 2-1 lead.

The Spartans later took a 3-2 lead, including another man-up goal to take the lead. However, Santana took control the rest of the way.

SPENCER LOVE registered consecutive goals to re-assume the lead, then 12 seconds later it was Baird scoring his second goal to make it 5-3.

Richards would close the half with two more goals, including an unassisted 30-yarder just before the horn for a 7-3 cushion.

Also scoring for the Sultans (1-4) was DAKOTA HINSON on a low shot inside the near post in the 4th quarter.

"We played very well on both sides of the ball tonight," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY. "Defensively, we did a very good job of pressuring their players and forcing turnovers, and on offense, we moved the ball very well and dictated the tempo of the game."

Santana won the ground ball battle, 62-29, with most of those coming on hustle plays.

"SAMMY ROSAS played exceptionally well on defense as well as in the clearing game," added the coach. "Baird did a good job winning face-offs, which allowed us to have the ball more on offense."

Vickery also noted the improved play in goal by both Ruben Rosas and Cody Smith.

“They not only made good saves, they also made some great outlet passes that led to transition offense."

Santana – Goals: Roy Richards 4, Derek Baird 3, Spencer Love 2, Dakota Hitson 1. Assists: Derek Baird 1. Goalies: Ruben Rosas: 4 goals, 4 saves (1st half); Cody Smith: 4 goals allowed, 6 saves (2nd half).

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TEMECULA (3-18-10) – The Santana Sultans make the trek to south Riverside County , then shocked host Chaparral High with an early goal. However, the Pumas responded with four straight tallies, claiming a 9-5 decision in Wednesday's (Mar. 17) inter-sectional boys lacrosse contest played at Great Oak High Stadium.

Santana's SPENCER LOVE got off the bus and scored an unassisted goal just moments into the game before Chaparral (2-4) went on its scoring binge. However, the Sultans (0-4) kept it close on a man-advantage goal when ROY RICHARDS took a feed from DEREK BAIRD,

The Pumas eventually took a 7-3 lead at the half. Santana controlled the third period, but could only muster a single goal to make it 7-4 before the hosts bounced back.

"In the first half, we played very poorly defensively with no communication and too much ball watching," said Sultans coach ADAM VICKERY. "We played better in the second half, but it was too late."

Santana scoring: Derek Baird, 1 goal 2 assists; Roy Richards 2 goals; Spencer Love 2 goals. Goalies: Cody Smith, 7 goals allowed, 1 save (1st half); Ruben Rosas, 2 goals allowed, 5 saves.

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SANTEE (3-17-10) — Santana High met one of the better teams from North County in Tuesday's (Mar. 16) non-league contest, falling to visiting San Marcos, 16-1, at Santee Community Stadium

The lone Sultans goal was scored by MATT DOYLE, who scored an unassisted goal during an extra-man situation in the second quarter.

"San Marcos was just much more polished on both sides of the ball," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY. "They moved the ball well on offense and were very athletic across the board."

"The hope is our guys use this as a learning experience and see how good lacrosse is supposed to be played. We are improving each and every day, and expect that to start translating into victories soon."

Santana – Goals: Matt Doyle 1.

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SANTEE (3-13-10) — The Santana High boys lacrosse team gave its best defensive performance of the young season, but visiting Foothills Christian did a touch better in front of its cage to take a 5-3 non-conference victory Friday (Mar. 12) at Santee Community Stadium.

The Knights scored an early goal, but were shutout for the balance of the first half, with Santana moving even by halftime on a solo effort by ROY RICHARDS, who drove past his defender for an unassisted goal during an extra-man situation.

Twice more, Foothills Christian would take 1-goal leads, but the Sultans got even twice. Santana attackman DAKOTA HITSON skipped a low shot past the Knights' goalie to make it 2-2, then Hitson scored again early in the fourth period to make it 3-3.

However, Foothills scored the game's final two goals to register its first triumph of the season in three starts.

"This was a much better effort than our first game on Monday," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY. "Our defense showed much improvement in communicating and sliding correctly when in a help position."

The coach noted the play on defense of SAMMY ROSAS, JACOB GENSCHAW, TIM SCHULTZ, and JESSE ROBERTO. Santana also won the ground ball battle (52-44).

"And both RUBEN ROSAS and CODY SMITH played exceptional in the cage," added Vickery. "With each making some spectacular saves that kept Santana in the game.

Santana – Goals: Dakota Hitson 2, Roy Richards 1. Assists: none. Goalies: Cody Smith (1H), 1 goal allowed, 4 saves ; Ruben Rosas (2H), 4 goals allowed, 6 saves.

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UNIVERSITY CITY (3-9-10) — Santana High opened the 2010 season on a fast note, yet eventually fell to host University City, 11-8, in Monday's (Mar. 8) non-league boys lacrosse contest.

The Sultans raced to a 4-0 lead through the first quarter, but the Centurions rallied to take a 6-5 halftime advantage.

The strong start saw DEREK BAIRD skip past his defender, so when another defenseman attempted to help his teammate, Baird passed to a wide open ROY RICHARDS for the opening goal.

Richards scored three times, while Baird captured a majority of his face-offs to give Santana substantial first-half possession time.

However, University City (1-0) took advantage of several breakdowns in the second half to pull away for the triumph.

"A lot of that has to do with miscommunication between players, as well as lack of experience," said Santana coach ADAM VICKERY. “Only two of our current players, Baird and SAMMY ROSAS, lettered on varsity last year, so the team has some learning to do."

"We did some good things in the game though, which is a great sign. The times we did communicate and move the ball on offense, we played very well for the first game of the season. For the majority of the players, it was their first varsity lacrosse game. Yet we hustled pretty well and for the most part, did a good job of scooping up ground balls."

Santana — Goals: Roy Richards 3, Matt Doyle 3, Derek Baird 2. Assists: Derek Baird 2. Goalies: Cody Smith (1H), 6 goals allowed, 5 saves; Ruben Rosas (2H), 6 goals allowed, 8 saves.