Lacrosse has been slowly growing in the Santa Barbara area in recent years, and the success of local high school girls lacrosse squads this spring showcased that growth.
San Marcos, Cate, Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara High dominated the All-Channel League honors this year, including all of the individual awards going to local student-athletes.
The Royals sat atop the Channel League all season, putting together a perfect record of 10-0 against league opponents to run away with the championship. As a result, San Marcos head coach Paul Ramsey was named the Coach of the Year.
San Marcos was led on both ends of the field by senior midfielder Livanna Plourde and junior defender Mia Richmond. Plourde pulled in Channel League Midfielder of the Year honors while Richmond was dubbed the Channel League Defensive Player of the Year.
Dos Pueblos had a strong season of its own, finishing in third place in the Channel League and making a run to the CIF-SS Division 3 Semifinals.
Senior Reagan Arnold led the Charger offense on her way to winning the Channel League Attacker of the Year award. Meanwhile, junior Stella Lawler was a dominant force in the net and was named the Channel League Goalie of the Year.
San Marcos (18-3, 10-0 CL, 1st)
The individual-award-winning duo of Livanna Plourde and Mia Richmond also picked up All-Channel League First Team honors. Plourde scored 78 goals and won 114 draw controls, while Richmond took on the task of defending opponents’ top attackers.
Meanwhile, senior midfielder Sadi Adams and freshman attacker Victoria Aldana showcased the present and future of the San Marcos program and were named to the All-League First Team as well.
The Royals also pulled in four All-Channel League Second Team members, including the attacking duo of senior Gigi Mills and junior Josephine Grossman.
Senior midfielder Molly McCarter and senior defender Sophia Llewellyn also capped off their high school careers in style with All-Channel League Second Team nods.
The senior pairing of attacker Clara Stump and defender Jocelyn Duncan rounded out the San Marcos honorees as All-League Honorable Mentions.
Cate (8-5, 7-3 CL, 2nd)
The Rams turned in a strong season of their own, led by the trio of senior midfielder Lucy Guilbert-Neil, senior attacker Sophia Ospina and junior defender Lauren Hubbs. All three were named to the All-League First Team.
Cate was represented on the All-League Second Team by senior midfielder Sam Jimenez, junior attacker Maia Holmes and junior midfielder Carmen Lack.
The duo of senior defender Val Madriz and freshman goalie Chelsea Newlove anchored a strong defensive effort for the Rams and were given All-League Honorable Mention nods.
Dos Pueblos (11-10, 6-4 CL, 3rd)
Arnold was in the middle of the action all season for the Chargers, scoring 62 goals and dishing out 16 assists on her way to an All-League First Team selection.
She was joined on the All-League First Team by Lawler and fellow senior Eloise Shea, a midfielder for Dos Pueblos.
The trio of junior midfielder Linnea Clapinski, senior attacker Chloe Gotsis and senior defender Sophie Dent covered all phases of the game to earn spots on the All-League Second Team.
The defensive tandem of senior Jackie Sierra Carbajal and Seri Gaynes also played key roles in the team’s success and were named All-League Honorable Mentions.
Santa Barbara High (6-8, 3-7 CL, 5th)
The Dons were led in the midfield this season as senior midfielders Katarina Olvera and Emma Hall represented the team on the All-Channel League First Team.
On the defensive end, junior goalie Sofia Lopez and senior defender Ale Alcocer led the way and were rewarded with spots on the All-League Second Team.
Senior midfielder Gigi Tarleton and sophomore attacker Liliana Aguilar turned in strong seasons of their own, capping off the local honorees as All-League Honorable Mentions.