Mustangs Boys Lacrosse Team Gets Physical to Win First Playoff Game

On a night where it was win or go home, the Mira Costa men’s lacrosse team came to play, facing visiting Westlake High School in the first round of CIF playoffs and physically beat them 15-3.

The Mustangs jumped out of the gate early as Austin Hafdell delivered a hat trick during the first quarter. He added another goal during the third.

“They were pretty physical," said Hafdell. "We have a good offense and our defense played just as physical all around." 

From the first faceoff, you immediately got a sense of how the game was going to go, with hard hitting and non-stop action. 

The Mustangs moved the ball around like a work of art in order to break Westlake's zone. All week during practice, Coach Chris Jewett made it a priority to find the open lanes because it was the first time the Mustangs had seen the zone all season. Like a game of chess, the coaching staff and its players were ready to react when the opportunity arose. “Similar to basketball, when you see the zone, you just move it and be patient,” Jewett said.

Jewett knew that his team had to match the physical play of Westlake because most of its players are football guys. “They were a big physical team from a football school,” he said.

Tajee Mobley, a Mira Costa senior, was very patient, transitioning his runs and finding the lanes with consistency during the match, scoring a goal in each of the quarters.

“It’s the playoffs and that’s how we have to play,” Mobley said.

Senior Tom Farrell had an astonishing eight assists. He was active, running up and down, in and around the net, dominating the defense all night long.

Overall Mira Costa's coaches and players were pumped up and now look forward to their next match at home on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against Agoura High School, who beat Harvard-Westlake Tuesday night. They will be prepared to do what it takes as they represent and defend their position as the top seed in the north in the CIF Southern Section.

“It’s hard hitting, and high scoring," Jewett said of lacrosse. "It’s what every American wants to see.  It’s a fun time.”