In a game that tested both composure and character, the girls’ varsity lacrosse team battled back from a sluggish start to earn a hard-fought 5-3 victory on the road at Calabasas High School.

The first three quarters were not the Warriors’ sharpest. Ball handling was inconsistent, communication broke down at times, and offensive rhythm never fully developed. Despite creating chances, Heritage struggled to convert and found themselves trailing 3-1 at the end of the third quarter. Calabasas capitalized on key opportunities in the first half and added another late in the third, putting the Warriors in a position where urgency was going to be vital in the fourth quarter if they had any hope of coming back.

Defensively, however, Heritage stayed within striking distance. Calabasas recorded eight shots on goal, but the Warriors’ goalkeeper, senior Sophia German, stood firm with five saves, including multiple critical penalty-shot stops, which prevented the game from slipping out of reach. Those saves would prove pivotal as the match continued.

The turning point for Heritage came with just 8:17 left in the fourth quarter.

After battling through a yellow card earlier in the game, Dayla Ireton ignited the comeback with a determined 60-yard cross-field run, finishing the play with a goal that shifted both momentum and belief. From that moment forward, the Warriors looked like a different team.

Heritage tied the game shortly after when senior Sam Rosales finished a strong shot off an assist from Liz Fiske tying the game 3-3. The pressure continued to mount as freshman Jossalyn Rice powered through for a 30-yard goal to give the Warriors their first lead of the night. A penalty goal from Rosales with 4:34 remaining extended the advantage and effectively sealed the comeback.

Over the final eight minutes, Heritage owned the field—communicating better, moving the ball with purpose, and finishing opportunities that had slipped away earlier in the game.

Afterward, Dayla Ireton reflected on the team’s resilience:

“I think the game started off rough, and we didn’t play our best, but we really picked it up in the fourth quarter. Overall, I’m super proud of my teammates for not giving up. We played hard until the end.”
Dayla Ireton
Sophomore

It wasn’t a perfect performance. In fact, for three quarters, it was anything but. But when it mattered most, the Warriors responded with urgency, discipline, and belief, turning a two-goal deficit for most of the game into a statement 5-3 road victory brining the Warriors record to 3-2.