The Alameda Attack varsity high school lacrosse team won the Northern California Junior Youth Lacrosse Association playoffs last Saturday, May 9, in just its second year at the varsity high school level.

The Alameda Attack team is a unique partnership between the Alameda Attack lacrosse club and St. Joseph Notre Dame High School.  The partnership allows girls from Alameda’s high schools the opportunity to play lacrosse. Girls from 10 different high schools participate.

The Attack team finished the regular season with a 13-1-2 overall record giving them the number two seed in the west bracket out of four teams — there were also four teams in the east bracket. 

The team began its long day at high noon against the Chico Rebels. The contest was a 14-5 blowout in favor of the Attack. Next on the path, the Alameda team faced the number one seed from the east, the Stockton Spartans. Alameda’s lightning-fast pace proved too much for the Spartans as Alameda’s team defense and balanced attack combined for a 12-4 win.

The Attack advanced to the final with the two blowout wins. However, they were scheduled to go up against its toughest competitor. Alameda was to face the San Jose Extreme in the final. The Extreme gave Alameda its lone defeat in the season, a 16-14 battle, and the two teams played to a draw in its second match up. The Extreme had also won its two first games against Pleasant Grove and Napa, setting the stage for a great championship game.

Alameda jumped out to a quick lead in the first half but San Jose battled back to tie the game with five minutes to go. After winning the draw San Jose took their first lead of the game at 12-11 with four minutes remaining. Alameda rebounded and tied the score at 12-12 with 2:57 to go. Alameda fought back and with 56 seconds to go, took the final lead of the game 13-12, securing the championship. 

Alameda’s head coach, Hannah Scott, credits the team’s success to true teamwork from a strong defense to a quick transitioning midfield to a balanced scoring machine that had seven different players contributing goals throughout the day.