This season, Saugus boys’ lacrosse head coach Josh Ireland wanted his program to be among the top teams in the Southern Section.
Following a narrow 13-12 win Friday over the Westlake Athletics — a top program in the section according to Ireland — in the second-round of the Division 2 boys’ lacrosse California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section playoffs, he believes the Centurions have earned their place.
“Westlake tested us with their zone defense, and we had to learn to be patient,” he said. “We had a deep team with a lot of guys who can score. Sometimes the best offense is just figuring out whose night it is and getting the ball to them.”
Ireland added that the win in the second round is a product of the Centurions (19-1, 8-0) playing against top competition around the Southern Section.
During the regular season, the Centurions secured wins over Harvard-Westlake and Notre Dame Sherman Oaks, games that Ireland believes helped them on Friday night.
“We play a very competitive schedule outside of our Foothill League,” Ireland said of the team’s non-league schedule. “We look for games against higher-ranked programs.”
The Centurions secured their first playoff win since 2023, after back-to-back years with first-round losses.
“Our team goal has always been undefeated in league and above .500 out of league,” he said. “Losing in the past to bigger, more historic programs like Westlake and St. Francis is very motivating. It feels good to now be on their radar.”
The Centurions are set to match up against the Mira Costa Mustangs of Manhattan Beach.
The Mustangs, who are ranked as the 38th team in the Southern Section, according to MaxPreps, are coming off an overtime 9-8 win over Newport Harbor on Monday.
The Centurions will have an advantage by having more rest from over the weekend and will be host in the quarterfinals. And with a trip at the semifinals on the line, Ireland believes both teams are more equal than people think, but the Centurions will prepare and try to secure another win in front of the Saugus faithful.
“We are focused on Mira Costa,” Ireland said. “They have a strong defensive corps and play fast in the midfield like we do. On paper, it’s an equal matchup at every position. It will surely be a fight right from the first faceoff.”
The matchup between the Centurions and Mustangs is set to begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Saugus High School.
