The California Lutheran University Regals lacrosse team fell to the Chapman Panthers 19-15 on Wednesday, April 2.
After defeating the Whittier College Poets the following Saturday, the Regals are now 6-6 overall with four games left in the season.ย
Head Coach MacEllen McDonough said this season, the team is focusing on a growth mindset, โtaking everything as it comes,โ learning from the games, and adjusting their performance.ย
McDonough said this game was the Regalsโ strongest so far this season.
โIโm actually not disappointed at all with this loss. I think it was a good loss and I think it was one of the strongest games, if not the strongest game, we’ve played all season,โ McDonough said.
Junior goalkeeper Bella Bravo said one of the challenges she faced during the game was the timing of her clears.
โJust taking a second to look around a little bit more like when I have my clears but also you know knowing when itโs like, โokay I canโt clear the ball right there, like [you know] thereโs people,โ just being like more aware and taking a little bit more time,โ Bravo said.
Bravo said this was โone of the best gamesโ the Regals have played so far this season, echoing McDonoughโs sentiment. Bravo also said that a takeaway from this game is to continue to implement everything they have been working on and doing at every game.ย
โI think today we came out confident and we were ready to go,โ Bravo said. โAnd we carried that through the entire game.โย
McDonough said she encourages her players to practice a growth mentality every game.ย
โI think playing hard physically but then keeping our mind calm,โ McDonough said.
McDonough said that the Regals played well and executed their game plan, but have room for improvement.
โThey executed the game plan really well, and that’s all I can ask, and now we just make the little adjustments to get the win,โ McDonough said.
Junior midfielder Josie Oparanaku said even though the Regals lost this game, there is still hope of winning the next few games remaining in the season as long as they work on improving from each challenge they face.ย
โEven though we came into the game losing, we still tried our best, and we didnโt know the outcome was going to be as good as it was right now. So it means that even though we lost, we can still win and become better,โ Oparanaku said.
Oparanaku said it can be challenging to let go of the setbacks she faces during games.
โMy challenges were not letting past mistakes define how Iโm playing. Itโs just a little part on the overall outcome, and that we can still build back to how we were. Not to let the mistakes pull us back,โ Oparanaku said.ย
Oparanaku said hustling and playing with heart, regardless of challenges in the game, is beneficial to the team.
โDefinitely heart, effort, and hustle. Hustling no matter what will show [or will] help someone whether you realize it or not, because if we hurry up and get the ball, then that’s one less turnover, or just trying no matter what will help the team,โ Oparanaku said.
According to CLU Sports, Bravo had a total of 15 saves in the game. Bravo said her mentality is to always improve her performance with each game, and that she values the support from her team.
โI feel good, definitely, you know just striving to keep doing better every game, but really it comes down to everyone else on the rest of the team, lifting me up and whatnot as well. So it’s not just me, itโs my defense, midfield, attack and I just always appreciate the support,โ Bravo said.
According to CLU Sports, Oparanaku scored four goals in the loss to Chapman.ย
โI feel great. I wanna [thank] my teammates for always cheering and always being happy and celebrating the little things, because that boosts our morale,โ Oparanaku said.
The Regals’ next game will take place on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at William Rolland Stadium against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7 p.m.
