LTN Photography - King Boys Lacrosse Team Finishes Strong

King Boys Lacrosse Team Finishes Strong Beats Agoura for Division 3 Title

The Wolves scored the first six goals of the second half, turning a close match into a runaway Saturday afternoon.

King’s Kale Van Lierop (1) is carried by Lucas Akutagawa as they celebrate winning the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Ryan Sanchez registered 16 saves, and the Wolves scored the first six goals during the second half of Saturday afternoon’s CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship match at El Modena High School’s Fred Kelly Stadium. And that combination allowed King to turn a tight match into a runaway, as the Wolves prevailed 14-8 and captured the program’s first section title.

King (14-9) trailed by a goal at halftime but outscored Agoura 9-2 in the second half. It is the second consecutive match the Wolves turned in a dominant defensive effort after intermission. King held West Ranch to one second-half goal in the semis.

“We’ve been a second-half team all season,” Wolves first-year head coach Kyle Gilbert said. “We really peaked at the right time of the season. Earlier in the year, we were struggling on both sides of the ball. About halfway through the season, they turned things around. They came together as a team, better than any team I’ve coached. And they played great lacrosse.”

There was some nerves early, as King turned the ball over on four of its first five possessions. Agoura (8-11) took advantage of those miscues and raced to a 3-1 lead with 4 minutes left in the first half. King eventually settled into the match, scoring three straight goals to take the lead. Aiden Lim scored twice during that stretch, and Kale Van Lierop added the other goal.

King had possession in the final seconds of the opening half, but the Wolves took a shot with 11 seconds left on the clock. Agoura’s Gavin Dyet gained possession in the attacking zone and scored with 2 seconds left to put the Chargers up 6-5.

It could have been a deflating moment for King. But there was no finger-pointing at halftime, only words of encouragement.

“It was just telling each other to lock in and play King lacrosse,” Van Lierop said. “I think we just wanted to win this more.”

Sanchez made a save to start the second half, and Van Lierop sniped his third goal of the match from about 20 yards out. Nathan Breads scored his second goal 45 seconds later to help the Wolves regain the lead. King didn’t let up and pushed that advantage to 9-6 heading into the final period. Lim and Logan Gilbert had the other third-period goals for the Wolves.

“Lacrosse is a game of runs,” Kyle Gilbert said. “And with this team, I’m going to bet we will have more runs than they will.”

Lucas Akutagawa didn’t score a goal Saturday, but his work in the face-off circle helped the Wolves make the crucial runs. Akutagawa won 61.5 % (16 of 26) of the face-offs in the match. His percentage was at 66.7 (12 of 18) after three periods.

“The face-offs are one of the biggest game-setters,” Akutagawa said. “It all starts there. You set a tone for the entire team, offensively and defensively. The goal was to do whatever I could to give us a chance to win. … I’m glad to come through.”

King kept the pedal to the metal, scoring five of the seven goals during the fourth quarter to close out the historic title run.

And while his teammate’s were scoring goals at the other end, Sanchez was preventing Agoura’s hopes for a comeback.

“These last two matches have been very stressful,” said Sanchez, who had eight saves in each half. “We made mistakes early, but we just looked forward and kept it positive. It came down to who wanted it more, and I think we answered that.”

Van Lierop celebrated his 18th birthday by scoring four goals, while Lim matched that total for game-high honors. Breads weighed in with a hat trick, as well, by scoring three goals. Logan Gilbert scored twice and Michael Barros added a goal.

It is Van Lierop’s second section title of his senior season. He also was on the Division 3 water polo championship team.

“There’s no feeling like it,” he said of winning. “I’m so excited, especially for all these guys experiencing it for the first time.”

Dyet and Brady Russ scored three goals apiece to lead Agoura. Garrett Andrews added a pair of goals for the Chargers.

Lacrosse has been an official CIF Southern Section sport for five seasons, and King became the third boys team from the Big VIII League to win a section title. Norco won the Division 3 title in 2021, and Santiago won the Division 2 title in 2023.

King players celebrate after winning the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

The King team celebrate with the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship plaque in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Aiden Lim, left, celebrates after scoring a goal with teammate Nathan Breads in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Kale Van Lierop, left, takes a shot past Agoura’s Gavin Mc Arthur to score a goal in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Aiden Lim, center, celebrates with Nathan Breads, left, after scoring a goal against Agoura in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Aiden Lim, left, takes a shot past Agoura goalie Deacon Banks to score a goal in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Ryan Sanchez, right, celebrates after the Wolves won the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Kale Van Lierop, right, celebrates his goal with teammates in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Agoura’s Gavin Dyet loses control of the ball near the goal as King players converge to get the ball in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Nathan Breads motions to the crowd after scoring a goal against Agoura in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Kale Van Lierop, right, makes a move toward the goal as Agoura’s Garrett Andrews tries to knock the ball away in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Kale Van Lierop, left, is hit by Agoura’s Calvin Petkus as he powers his way toward the goal in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Kale Van Lierop takes a shot for a goal against Agoura in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Agoura’s Gavin Dyet, center, gets rid of the ball as he is challenged by King’s Taylen Bock, left, and Austin Rupley, right, in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Owen Crossman, center, reacts as a time out is called during the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship against Agoura in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Logan Gilbert, right, shoots to score a goal against Agoura in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Logan Gilbert, right, pushes past the defense of Agoura’s Matthew McCarthy in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Lucas Akutagawa, right, passes the ball to Nathan Breads (3) in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

King’s Nathan Breads points to the crowd after scoring a goal as he is trailed by Aiden Lim, center, and Andrew Nelson, right, in the CIF-SS Division 3 boys lacrosse championship in Orange on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)