By Jessica SHUMATE

The Crescenta Valley High School girls’ lacrosse team played at Westridge High on Wednesday in an effort to improve their record to 8-4. The team previously handled Louisville 12-0 on Tuesday at CV’s home field.

With that victory, the Falcons went to 7-4, and 3-1 overall in the Pacific League. Last season, the inaugural one for the program, the Falcons finished 8-7 overall, 3-5 in league.

“At practice we tried to make it a lot like the games that we play so we can be prepared for game scenarios. It’s mostly working on fundamentals, throwing, catching and ground balls. We really focus on the basics of the game,” said junior Leah Crowther.

The Falcons play three more games in the regular season. They have West Ranch at home on Friday, and then play at Oaks Christian on Tuesday before playing at Rosemary Academy on May 10.

Crowther said the improvement for her teammates this year has been dramatic.

“Our biggest competitors are Glendale and Chaminade,” she said. “We were skilled enough to beat Glendale this year in overtime and it was an amazing game. We were this close (a 9-8 loss) to beating Chaminade, which is a big step up since we lost to both teams last year by more than 10 points.”

CV is coached by Boz Crowther and led on the field by Crowther, Abby Sheklow and Samantha Yarnes. The girls are happy to have a lacrosse program.

“My dad (Boz Crowther) and I have been working for upwards of five years to get the program here because he’s played forever,” Crowther said. “And to finally get recognized and to be doing as well as we are is amazing. I’m glad [we’re] getting the recognition we deserve and I’m really glad this school was as excited about the program as we are. Some people think just because we wear skirts, it’s kind of a girly sport but it’s really not. We all walk off the field every week with new bruises.”

  Jessica Shumate