The Buccaneers finished with their best season since 2019 after going 10-7 and ending up as the seventh-seed for CIF postseason play where they will be taking on the 10th-seeded Olympian High School at home on Wednesday at home (after press time).
Mission Bay went on a four-game winning streak early after losing the regular season opener to San Diego High, which included victories over Rancho Buena Vista, Morse, Hilltop, and Del Lago Academy.
“I think that some of the things that stood out this year were the level of growth,” said Mission Bay boys lacrosse coach Seth Whittenberg. “We probably have six to eight guys who never touched a lacrosse stick. The amount of improvement and dedication they’ve shown has really impressed me and my assistant coach.”
Despite the fact that Mission Bay lost three of its next four after the match versus Del Lago, the team was able to bounce back nicely by winning four in a row, which included back-to-back victories versus Canyon Hills by a combined score of 31-6. The Bucs ended the season winning one of its final four games, which concluded in a defeat to top-ranked Point Loma that went on to finish 15-1 overall and undefeated in league play.
“Point Loma is a tough team,” Whittenberg added. “We’ve improved a lot since our first matchup with them.”
Among the standout players, this season is sophomore goalie Rowan Henehan who had several outstanding performances. Other notable players this season are senior HaTan Nguyen, who, despite being new to the sport, has been solid in each game he has started, and junior Janner Helm (above) who has helped recover possessions and create scoring chances for himself and his teammates.
Mission Bay outscored its opponents 153 to 126 for a +27 goal differential this season. This will be the first time that Olympian and Mission Bay play each other since the two sides faced off in early 2022 when the Bucs come out with a dramatic 5-4 home victory. The team from Chula Vista finished with a 5-12 record, which included a six-game losing streak to end the regular season along with a 0-7 record in league play.
Photo by Steve Sidell
