Bainbridge Downs Lake Washington 15-8

By McNutty BAINBRIDGE ISLAND- The air was crisp and the sky was moist as the 2011 High School lacrosse season kicked off on Bainbridge Island. The Spartans hosted the Mighty Purple Kangaroos from Lake Washington, a game with a backstory, as it marked the first return of Coach Dejon Hush, who took the helm at LW this season.  The Kangs, fresh off a 13-0 season and a run to semi-finals in Division 2, faced Bainbridge in the first D1 game in their program's history.

The game started with a big surprise; Coach Hush sporting a collared shirt, fresh sweater and khakis. Nothing with flowers or the word "Kavu" printed on it. Clearly the new gig came with a clothing allowance.

The Kangs also gave notice that they were a team to be reckoned with, sporting what the crowd agreed were the best D1 uniforms in a long time. All-black with tasteful purple side panels, matching team socks, and some sweet black-and-purple Warrior Shocker gloves. They were black helmets away from perfection.

Once the fashion show was over, the game commenced and Bainbridge went to work, showing that it takes more than pretty clothes to get the ball in the net. Reily Blackner won the faceoff for the Kangs, but they couldn't settle the ball. Bainbridge caused the turnover and five crisp passes down the field got them a point blank shot on the cage. Lake Washington goalie Jonah Friedl made his first of 10 saves, but the message was sent; you're now in a man's game.

Cam Parker (2g, 1a) scores first with a big dodge from way out top and then rips a lefthanded shot to the upper corner. Henry Deery-Schmitt (1g, 2a) and Jacob Goodman (2g) add goals and it's clear the Spartan's speed is giving the Kangs fits. Lake Washington is getting killed on the early dodge and giving up big time and room shots.

Early in the season, there's been so few practices that "Special Teams" work gets the short shrift. Lake Washington struggles with things like clears and rides all night long.  Dropped balls, long passes and "failure to advance" calls plague LW in the first half.  Alex Crane of Bainbridge (4g) intercepts a clear while still in the box and runs unopposed to the crease where he beats Friedl and gives Bainbridge a 4-0 lead.  Cam Parker adds another alley dodge while man-up and finishes the first quarter with the score 5-0.  LW's inability to clear created a quarter in which they never got a shot on goal.

Bainbridge's defense, led by senior defenseman Quinn McMahon, has superior speed and is able to push the LW offense out away from the goal, almost to the edge of the box. LW has no answer for this and struggles with blown passes and take-aways. Their inability to dodge through or move without the ball is preventing them from mounting any offensive charge.

But Coach Hush is more than just a fashion model, and he makes some adjustments in-between quarters and within a minute, Ben Anderson puts a shot on goal that Julian Skothim-Hillis saves.  But soon after the Spartan's Crane takes a feed from Deery-Schmitt and scorches the turf with a low 5hole score.  Deery-Schmitt follows quickly with a fine behind-the-back shot as he crosses the crease but Friedl's there to deny the goal.  Connor Cather feeds Alexander Rabin for the first of his four goals and the Spartans are up 7-0.  LW's clearing woes continue and the defense loses Crane behind the cage, who then sneaks in and scores from the island unassisted.  Down 8-0 with 5 minutes to go in the half, Coach Hush takes a timeout and proves why he's considered by many to be the best coach in the state.

After the timeout, the Kangs rally and dominate the final five minutes of the half.  They put four shots on cage and brothers Jake (3g, 1a)  and Cody (2g) Bernstein each blast one by Skotheim-Hillis to make the halftime score 8-2 in favor of Bainbridge.

The third quarter sees Cody Bernstein (LW) and Jacob Goodman (Bainbridge) have great physical one-on-one battles with neither player dominating the other, but both of them getting in good hits.  Colin Story brings the Kangs to within 9-4 with a hard righthanded shot off a dodge. With four minutes left in the third quarter, defenseman McMahon has a nasty de-sticking of an LW middie that draws a gasp then a cheer from the crowd.  All of a sudden Goodman scores, Rabin adds  two and Crane rips a 15 yard duck on man-up to end the third quarter. Bainbridge leads 13-4.

To start the final quarter LW goes man-up, runs a nice set and buries a shot...into the side of the net, and fooling the crowd, but no goal. Sean Maier finds Kaegan Ingrasci off a failed LW clear and Ingrasci buries it past a twitching Friedl with 9 minutes left in the game.  The Spartan's Joe Nunes follows with a circus shot while getting creamed by three angry Kangaroos.  Hank Schmale adds two late goals for Lake Washington and boom, we're all rushing for the ferry.

Figure 3 Bainbridge Junior Joe Nunes buries a shot and then pays the price from Kangaroos Tad Iba (#9) and Ben Pliska (#5)

One of the big differences between D2 and D1 lacrosse is the ability to ride on the backs of just a few stars.  In D2 you can often just "feed the big guy" and he'll bull-dodge his way to the crease and bury a 5 footer past the hapless goalie. Or perhaps you've got a couple of studs who can pass their way around any defense thrown at them.  But, as Lake Washington learned tonight, it's a team game in the upper tiers of D1. Lots of players are big enough, fast enough and skilled enough to lockdown your studs. And if there is no other man who can get open, who can work hard enough to warrant some attention, it can be a long night.

Notable Performances

Alex Crane (B) 4 goals

Alexander Rabin (B) 4 goals

Jake Berstein (LW) 3 goals, 1 assist

Julian Skotheim-Hills (B)  11 shots on goal, 3 saves, 8 goals allowed

Jonah Friedl (LW) 25 shots on goal, 10 saves, 15 goals allowed

Pictures provided courtesy of Sound Lacrosse. Lots more available at www.soundlacrosse.com