Though the Vashon Lacrosse Club made an extraordinary effort in games this week against Lake Washington and Puyallyp, nagging injuries to veteran players and mental lapses in critical moments kept them from taking the win in either game. 

In the game against Lake Washington on Tuesday, April 26, Vashon fell behind early, as it has often this season. Lake Washington took a 2-0 lead before co-captain Zack Stackhouse opened Vashon’s scoring to keep it close in the first quarter. 

Lake Washington uncorked for six goals compared with Vashon’s two to give Lake Washington an 8-3 lead at the half.

Vashon’s offense scored a flurry of goals in the third quarter, and the defense stiffened to narrow Lake Washington’s lead. Though Vashon’s scoring was balanced, co-captain John Smith’s leadership helped the offense capitalize on opportunities. 

The entire team was inspired by the heroic play of freshman back-up goalie Marquis Stendahl. Due to an injury to Vashon’s starting goalie, Stendahl stepped in with only one day of practice. He calmly and confidently made fourteen saves throughout the game.

However, Vashon could not sustain its offensive success in the fourth quarter, and Lake Washington added three goals to seal an 11-7 win.

Without any rest after the Lake Washington game, an injured and tired Vashon squad took the field against Puyallup the next day. Again, Puyallup scored first, but Vashon would not let this game get away. 

Stackhouse and Luke Hembree scored successive goals to give Vashon a 2-1 lead in the first quarter before Puyallup responded with two scores at the end of the first for a 3-2 lead. The first quarter set the tone for one of Vashon’s best efforts this season.

The game’s intensity ramped up in the second quarter. Hembree scored twice and Caz Mozeleski once. Led by co-captain Sam West, Vashon’s defense limited Puyallup to three goals, and Puyallup led 6-5 at the half.

The third quarter would be Vashon’s undoing. Puyallup scorched Vashon for seven goals in the third quarter. Nevertheless, Vashon’s offense responded with five goals of its own to stay close. Puyallup appeared notably more rested than Vashon. 

Though Vashon scored four additional goals in the fourth quarter, the team simply ran out of time and energy to take a lead, and Puyallup prevailed, 16-14.

Despite the loss, Vashon showed significant improvement in the game. Moreover, Luke Hembree established a new single game scoring record for Vashon with nine goals and two assists for a total of 11 points. In the 19 years since the program began, no Vashon player has produced more than nine total points in a game.

Vashon lacrosse will plays today at Tacoma’s Stadium High School, and at home against Seattle Prep at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. 

 —Charley Rosenberry coaches the Vashon Lacrosse Club.