First year CIF program Norco High School traveled to Tesoro on Monday to test their mettle against an established South Coast League program for the first time. Although Tesoro won by a convincing 20-7 score, the Cougars played hard from the first whistle to the last, and showed that they are an up and coming team.
The Titans wasted no time in establishing their intentions for the night. Four quick goals from Brian Graves and one from Cole Spooner (assisted by Jason Moreta) put the Titans out to an early 5-0 lead. Meanwhile, Cameron King, Ryan Perry, Andrew Cohen and Riley McQuaid were taking care of business on the other of the field, making life difficult for the Cougars and forcing turnovers. Dante Duran was the first Cougar to find a seam in the Tesoro defense when he ripped an unassisted goal to put Norco on the board to finish the first quarter at 5-1.
Marcus Huerta started Tesoro’s second quarter rally with a long run-back and assist to Graves. Nicholas Olivo fired right back for Norco to make it 6-2. The Titans then closed out the half with four unanswered goals from Graves (assisted by Moreta), Braden King (assisted by Moreta), freshman Carson Spooner (assisted by Graves), and King again to finish the half at 10-2.
TESORO VS NORCO @ Tesoro. Monday 3/13 Varsity @ 5PM & 7PM JV. See you there for some GREAT LAX! pic.twitter.com/z32rO0N5af
— Tesoro Lacrosse (@TesoroLacrosse) March 12, 2016
Tesoro started the third quarter the same way they started the first two, with a quick goal. This time Kelly O’Leary fed Trent Tubbs who found the back of the net. Colton Dall then jump started Norco’s most productive quarter of the game with a goal to make it 11-3. Cole Miller, Mitchell Cristillo, and Duran also registered third quarter goals for the Cougars. Despite the offensive spurt, Tesoro would not let the Cougars gain any ground. Carson Spooner, with a helping hand from big brother Cole, scored his second goal of the game. Riley McQuaid went coast to coast for an unassisted goal. O’Leary earned his second assist, this time with an assist from Carson Spooner, and then with a few seconds left in the third quarter Graves fed Cole Spooner whose BTB beat the buzzer to make it 15-6 with 12 minutes to play.
Tesoro kept the pressure on in the fourth quarter with King, Moreta, Cole Spooner, and Ryan Harrington before Norco could respond. Miller added one more for Norco. Cole Spooner making the most of a loose ball putting in one more to end the game at 20-7
Next up: Tesoro (4-1) opens South Coast League play against Aliso Niguel on St. Patty’s Day. Norco (3-4) hosts Capistrano Valley (3-1) on Wednesday.
