GRR on X  GRR on Facebook GRR in Instagram GRR Vimeo Library GRR on YouTube RuggaMatrix America Podcasts Support GRR on Patreon

La Costa Canyon Wins Crucial Clash In SoCal

irish rugby tours

La Costa Canyon Wins Crucial Clash In SoCal

Niklas Lundqvist scores for LCC. Kevin Mummau photo.

La Costa Canyon put in an impressive result this past weekend, defeating Torrey Pines in the SoCal Varsity Red division, moving to 4-0 with the 21-7 victory and knocking off LCC's main rival.

Torrey Pines went up 7-0 early on a try in the corner from wing Gaston Schenk. But just as the first half expired, LCC No. 8 Niklas Lundqvist went over to tie the game 7-7. That seemed to give LCC a boost.

In the second half, both teams played tough, physical rugby, and in the end it was LCC that took the lead. After a solid drive into Torrey Pines territory, La Costa Canyon backs swung the ball wide to wing Trent Dunn, who won the race to the corner.

Not long after, Lundqvist sealed the deal with another strong run and a dive in for the try.

The win put LCC atop the San Diego conference with a 4-0 record, and also meant the school took back the coveted Titan Shields, which Torrey Pines had been holding onto since the two teams last played. 

"LCC played a much more disciplined game than we did, and deserved the win," said Torrey Pines coach Matty Sandoval. "This our second game with 19 penalties, and the boys need to learn that number is nearly insurmountable with the quality of opposition in our league."

LCC head coach Mike Maister, who took over coaching this year after working with the Dragons and the SoCal Griffins select side, said his team was the underdog team going into this game. LCC was coming off a 17-12 win over Del Norte, which was a closer game than expected. 

Maister said this closeness would provide motivation for the guys going into the game, and certainly that was the case.