Culver City Observer -

At first glance at the Culver City girl's lacrosse team, it's hard to figure out who the coach is. Everyone on the sideline looks like high school student athletes. The coach is a recent Culver City High School graduate, Catie Shin. After talking to Shin after her team beat Beverly Hills last week you quickly realize why she is the head coach. She is confident and mature beyond her years.

"I started coaching in high school and I have coached at the club level (lacrosse)", said Shin after the game on the Culver City lacrosse field. "I was also the assistant coach for Culver City two years ago. I love coaching here. The girls make it easy. Their attitudes are positive whether it's a practice or whether it's a game and whether if we are down or up in the game."

The team has experienced several up and down moments this year. They started the season with a five-game losing streak and since March 22, the Centaurs have won six of their last eight games. The Lady Lacrosse Centaurs are currently 6-7 overall and 4-2 in the Bay league.

They are in third place behind first place Santa Monica, 13-3 and 5-0 and second place Marlborough, 4-0 and 13-1. The other teams in the league are El Segundo and Beverly Hills.

When the Centaurs start the playoffs Shin knows they will have to improve in several areas if they expect advance. "We need to work on the small things like coming to practice every day, but I know it's hard because a lot of girls are in extracurricular activities." Shin was a four-year varsity lacrosse player and senior captain at Culver City during the years of 2016-19.

Shin appears to be a perfect fit for the girls' lacrosse team. "I am having so much fun," said Shin who is in her fourth year at Long Beach State University. "The girls make it fun. Their attitudes are great, and they bring positivity to the game. They are always working to get better individually and as a team. They make it easy to coach them. This has been a passion of mine since high school."

One of the players that has had a positive influence on the program the last four years is senior captain Madison De La Trinidad. The four-year varsity player talked about their 18-2 win over Beverly Hills. "It was a really good game for us to work on our skills and play together and grow as a team. It also gives the other girls an opportunity to play and show off their skills."

De La Trinidad has really enjoyed the last four years on the team. "I like the environment. Everyone wants to grow and get better, and I love how much we have progressed throughout the year. I am really enjoying the last few moments we have together. I am sad that this is my last year. The last four years went by really fast, but I am happy about how the four years went. I am grateful to have Catie as a coach and I am also grateful for our previous coaches."

In other Culver City High School sports action, the boys and girls track and field teams will compete in the Bay League Finals at Redondo Union high school on Friday starting at 6 p.m., the baseball team will played their final regular season game last Thursday against Santa Monica on the road at 3:15 p.m. The team is currently 8-13-1 and the softball team is 13-11 overall and 5-5 in league play. They made the playoffs after they defeated Santa Monica last Wednesday behind the pitching of Taylor Peacock. Peacock pitched a three hitter. The boys' tennis team finished their season with a 5-7-1 record.