LJ g lax: The Ari story

By Ed Piper

Ari Conboy is the starting goalie on the number-two girls lacrosse team in San Diego County.

Her family and friends got word that she was in National City. The Vikings' Open Division championship game, on the other hand, was in Encinitas, at the other end of the county, at San Dieguito Academy.

The time was right around 4 p.m. The game was slated to start with the opening draw at 5 p.m., a mere one hour from now.

"She's in National City," one said. The other part of the family had just entered the SDA stadium and was standing near the restrooms. The man's voice communicated surprise, astonishment, anxiety.

A security guard, hearing the story, said, "Well, they (La Jolla) have another goalie, right?" In other words, just plug the backup in.

No offense to the second-string, but you don't just plug a backup in in the finals. Starters are there for a reason.

At about 4:20, the scoreboard clock, which had been counting down at around 48 minutes a few minutes ago, now read 28 minutes. That would mean the game moved up to a 4:45 start. Ari, miles away in South County, would be hard-pressed to make it on time and be warmed up, ready to play in the most important match of her young high school career.

"They can't do that, can they?" queried the San Dieguito Academy security guard, wearing a blue Mustangs hat for the host school.

I said, "I don't know. Somebody just punched in 28:00, and it's counting down."

At right around 4:30, here came Conboy across the field to the teams' side."I put 'San Diego Academy' into my phone, and it took us to National City. It was a hospital, so I didn't think that was the right place."

An assistant coach calmed her: "You're here now, and it's time to get ready."

Not that the sophomore looked like she was out of control. Not in the least. She said they drove at a speed I won't put on my blog, so as not to incriminate the involved party. It was above the speed limit on the Interstate 5.

It turned out the scoreboard clock change was made so that pregame activities could begin at 4:45: stick check, procession to the middle of the field, player introductions.

The game started promptly at 5 p.m. Conboy was in place in goal.

The team and Ari played a creditable game. Scripps Ranch, seeded number one, took the initiative from the opening draw. The Falcons never completely gave it up.

They led 8-3 at the half. They led by seven midway through the second half. They took away a decisive 17-9 win from La Jolla.

The Viking goalie made it in time, and safely, in one piece. That isn't why her team lost.

In fact, La Jolla, under fifth-year coaches Kitty Cullen and Sam Farrell, are among the elite teams in CIF, making it to the finals this year, into the Open Division playoffs last year as well. This is the Vikings' golden era of girls lacrosse.