In a match that tested endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower, the No. 2-seeded Los Altos High School girls lacrosse team edged out Hillsdale in a double-overtime marathon. The Eagles clinched a nail-biting 11–10 victory in the CCS semifinals Wednesday night and advance to the championship game Saturday. This will be the team’s first CCS Finals appearance in program history.
Unlike Los Altos’ high-scoring 15–7 quarterfinal win, this contest opened with strong defensive fronts from both sides, keeping the game scoreless for the first five minutes of the opening quarter. Although Hillsdale struck first, captain senior Natalie Barton quickly answered back with a successful penalty shot to tie it up 1 apiece, setting the tone for a back-and-forth first quarter. However, the quarter slipped away from the Eagles with two minutes left in the period. Hillsdale surged to a 4–1 lead to end the first, and scored again early in the second to make it 5–1.
Undeterred, the Eagles locked in on defense and settled down. By maintaining possession and patiently waiting for prime scoring opportunities, they narrowed the gap to 5–4. The entire team contributed to their rally, netting multiple goals, including one from senior Ella Liniger on a rebound. Hillsdale briefly extended its lead to 6–4, but Natalie drilled a penalty shot with four seconds left in the half, bringing the Eagles within 1 at the break and boosting their morale.
Natalie opened the third with another powerful penalty goal, tying the match 6–6. Even so, Hillsdale kept a small but consistent lead and responded with a goal of their own. Los Altos finally took its first lead, 8–7, off a decisive dodge and goal by Natalie with three minutes left in the third quarter. The Eagles’ offense surged, with senior Tyra Bogan adding a smooth lefty finish and senior Kaya O’Reilly converting from behind the net to push the lead to 10–8. Key defensive stops from goalie senior Gabby Zuraek allowed the Eagles to keep their momentum throughout the fourth.
Los Altos’ two-goal cushion might’ve looked secure, but in a game this tight — and with both teams playing so persistently — it was never safe. The Knights clawed their way back, tying it 10–10 with 53 seconds left in regulation. In a critical possession, senior Lola Bacchi streaked down the left sideline. But, the Eagles couldn’t convert in time, sending the game into overtime.
In girls high school lacrosse, overtime consists of two three-minute halves, followed by endless three-minute sudden victory rounds as long as the score remains tied. OT was a team effort for the Eagles as they strategically ran down the clock and shared the ball, but both halves remained scoreless despite numerous full-field back-and-forth pushes.
With each team trading possession and penalties, it came down to grit. Lola’s relentless draw control — winning every single draw during overtime — and Natalie’s composure under pressure kept the Eagles contending. Gabby’s clutch back-to-back saves during Hillsdale’s final penalty attempts proved pivotal. In the dying seconds of the second OT, a perfectly executed penalty shot by junior Matilda Haney Foulds clinched the 11–10 victory.
The Eagles advance to the CCS Division II Finals riding a wave of momentum and resilience — every player on the field contributed a key part. Offensively, Natalie led all scorers and was the heart of the rally, while Lola controlled tempo at the draw. Defensively, Gabby delivered ice-cold saves under fire, anchoring the back line with nerves of steel in the cage. In a game where every possession mattered, her game saving blocks — especially under sudden victory pressure — laid the foundation for the Eagles’ final breakthrough.
