Lacrosse Wins Second Title

The Oaks Christian boys’ lacrosse team was surrounded by family and friends in the corner of Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange, California after beating Dana Hills 16-11 to win their second CIF-SS Division 3 championship in three years.

Fred Kelly Stadium is the home of CIF-SS championship lacrosse and there was still one more championship to be determined after the Lions triumph, on Friday, May 15,

As the celebration ensued, they abruptly paused when the National Anthem was being performed in preparation for the last final of the night.

The team, as they had all season, sang the National Anthem in unison one last time. This time, as champions.

“You can’t put words to this feeling,” said Junior Greg DeGroote. He was a starter as a freshman the last time the Lions won a CIF title in 2024. “It’s really special and it’s something that bonds all of us together for life.”

Chase Macleod scored seven goals and three assists against Dana Hills, while DeGroote tallied three goals and three assists. Asher Wolfe and Trent Malan scored two goals apiece. Malan was 95 percent on faceoffs won. 

The Lions built this championship run from the ground up. Starting off the season 0-2 the Lions showed signs of what was to come when they won their first game of the season 10-9 against Newbury Park in overtime. The Lions trailed 8-4 in the third quarter and 9-5 in the fourth quarter before storming back to tie the game in the final minute. DeGroote would score the game-winner in overtime.

The players in the locker room had ambitions of winning a championship since the season began. They proved they had the mental toughness to get it done in that game. The Lions would only drop Marmonte League contests to Westlake while beating Newbury Park 10-7 later in the season.

It was a 12-11 loss to top-10 Village Christian that proved to Head Coach Geoff Sebold that the program was prepared to go on a run in the CIF playoffs.

“Between all the injuries and new players we came into the season thinking maybe this was a rebuilding season,” Sebold said. “But the boys’ stuck together and just kept building and building and building. After we fought back after trailing against Village Christian in the fourth quarter I knew we were locked in and playing our best lacrosse of the season. They just kept getting better after that.”

The Lions would solidify their growth against Newbury Park when they upended them 13-3 in the postseason rematch. The Panthers came in with momentum having just upset Westlake 14-13 and came into that match riding a 10-game winning streak.

Macleod, who led the Lions offensively said that around the locker room, the team always believed in their ability to succeed.

“We never considered this a rebuilding year and at the beginning of the season we said we wanted to win a championship this year,” Macleod said. “No matter what adversity we faced, we wanted to be a team that kept responding and coming back.”

Senior Ben Hatfield stepped in and helped anchor the Lions defensively. The football player converted to lacrosse on his way out. After coming so close to winning a championship on the football field, he’ll graduate with a ring secured.

“I appreciate that these boys accepted me in for one season and we ended the season in the best possible way,” Hatfield said. “Coming over from football, being physical was never an issue. The coaching staff worked with me though and made me a more complete lacrosse player during this season.”

Lacrosse is surging at Oaks Christian. Between the boys and girls’ program, it’s the third consecutive season lacrosse has won a championship at Fred Kelly Stadium. This was the first year both programs featured a junior varsity program.

“I hope our athletes at Oaks Christian see what we’re accomplishing here and want to join us,” Sebold said. “All we need our athletes to come out. They don’t need experience, we can teach them how to play.”

Not just play, Sebold and his staff of Sean Lindsay build champions.

“I was so close with football, and the thought of graduating without a ring didn’t sit well with me,” Hatfield said. “I’m grateful I got to experience this championship run.”