Following a three-game losing streak, the Palo Alto High School boys’ lacrosse team (7-6-2) bounced back and beat Carlmont High School (5-7-4) 9-5 on Tuesday at Carlmont. Paly hopes to continue its momentum and secure another win against the Los Gatos High School Wildcats at 7 p.m. tonight on the Paly lacrosse field. 

Last week, the Vikings lost to Casa Grande High School (14-3-1) and twice to Sacred Heart Preparatory (13-2-0). The win against Carlmont High School moved the Vikings up to 52nd in the state rankings. Junior middie Aidan Gans and senior attackman Benner Mullin led the team with four and three goals, respectively.

“It was pretty scary going in because the last time we played [Carlmont,] it was tied 4-4 at halftime,” Gans said. “We ended up beating them by a lot that time, but it was still close. This time we were missing our starting goalie and the back-up goalie [Jack Stefanski] had never played before, but he stepped up and we were able to play good defense and win the game.”

Senior face-off specialist Richard Islas believes that victory is possible if the team continues the strides it has been making in the last two games.

“We need to play like we practice and also work as a whole,” Islas said. “The team needs to believe that we are going to win this and I have no doubt in my mind that we will win this.”

The Wildcats are the Vikings’ rival as the two have been at the top of the league for years.

“Our league in lacrosse has never been super competitive besides us and Los Gatos,” Gans said. “We have been fighting for the championship for years.”

After the game against Los Gatos, the Vikings will play against Aragon High School (3-7-1) at 7 p.m. on April 26 at Aragon High School.