Vashon lacrosse stands up to rivals

The Vashon Lacrosse Club’s high school boys team took its two scheduled home games back on the road last week due to Vashon field closures. In doing so, the team cruised to a win over Shoreline High School and lost to a powerful Three Rivers club from Richland the next day.

By Charley Rosenberry • April 3, 2012 2:09 pm
Vashon lacrosse player Nick Amundsen (3) is pursued by Three Rivers players during Saturday’s away game. In the end
Vashon lacrosse player Nick Amundsen (3) is pursued by Three Rivers players during Saturday’s away game. In the end

The Vashon Lacrosse Club’s high school boys team took its two scheduled home games back on the road last week due to Vashon field closures. In doing so, the team cruised to a win over Shoreline High School and lost to a powerful Three Rivers club from Richland the next day.

In its game against Shoreline, senior captain John Smith opened the scoring for Vashon with a solo goal three minutes in to the first quarter. Facing one of the best goalies it’s seen this season, Vashon continued to pepper Shoreline with shots but could only find open net five times in the first half, with senior Luke Hembree leading Vashon’s scoring with three goals and two assists. Sophomore Griff Jennings added a goal and assist.

Meanwhile, Vashon’s defense stood tall to shut out Shoreline in the first quarter and allow just one goal before halftime.

Vashon continued to steadily control this game in the second half.

Smith scored two more, and junior goalie Aaron Bomber led a smothering Vashon defense to come away with a 9-3 victory.

Vashon took a whopping 33 shots, necessitating a focus on improving its shot-to-goal ratio.

Vashon had little time to rest for its Saturday game against an athletic and talented Three Rivers team comprised of high school players from Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. For two-and-a-half quarters, Vashon stood tall with Three Rivers. Led by the goalie, Bomber, and spirited play from Nick Amundsen, Vashon’s defense frustrated the quick-striking Three Rivers offense by limiting it to four goals in the first half. Vashon, however, could manage just two goals from Hembree.

Vashon’s offense could not find a rhythm to possess the ball and find scoring opportunities in the second half, while Three Rivers simply wore down Vashon’s defense. Three Rivers scored four unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to secure an 11-3 victory.

On Tuesday, Vashon traveled to Seattle’s Garfield High School after press deadline, and on Thursday it will play another away game against Kennedy Catholic High School.

 

— Charley Rosenberry is the coach of the lacrosse club’s high school boys team.