Walax Rundown of Week One

Here is this season’s new weekly summary called the Walax Rundown, where we look around the league and give our two cents on the week’s action.  Expect the Rundown every Monday morning with summaries, players and games of the week and some surprises like videos and links to previous write-ups.

Walax Rankings

The preseason rankings are out the window once the season begins.  However, some of them will still stand.  Division II was shuffled with the first game splayed this week.  However, more teams will need to get playing to make a case of the top ten.  As for the big boys in Division I, Northshore showed some good signs, as well as Lake Washington so they got moved up.  Don’t get flustered, there’s a whole lot of season left to be played and there sure will be some surprises.

DI                                                                       DII

1) Issaquah                                                        1) Snohomish

2) Bainbridge                                                      2) Sammamish

3) Mercer Island                                                 3) Woodinville

4) Bellevue                                                         4) Whatcom

5) Skyline                                                           5) Redmond     

6) Northshore                                                    6) Three Rivers

7) Lake Washington                                          7) Blancet

8) King’s Way                                                    8) Stanwood    

9) Overlake                                                       9) Port Angeles

10) Lake Tapps                                                 10) Skagit Valley

Heavyweights

Here we are with the first week of games under the belts. There were a lot of great performances from teams out of the gate.  The top four heavyweight hitters of Division I all performed to expectation by dominating their opponents.  Eastlake and Mukilteo got the shaft in schedule, literally, facing the top four teams in their first three games of the season- early sacrifices.  Issaquah’s Kevin Powers first game performance made a strong All-American statement as he racked up tens goals against Mukilteo.  Bellevue and Mercer Island got some quality wins, but something says all of them were the quiet before the storm.  Both teams hold some bad blood from last season, and after the Northwest Invitational this weekend, they will look forward to playing each other next week.  A target on each of their calendars for sure.  The rivalry has the makings of a potential blood bath.  All the ‘I-90’ rivals are hunting each other to claim the conference’s top spot.  The Northeast conference clearly holds the top of the food chain; all are hungry for each other.  In the Southwest conference, Bainbridge Island played mediocre teams at best thus far.  Their offense doubled and tripled the score on their opponents, emerging as the state’s lopsided scoring leader.  In their first three games they averaged a laughable 22 goals per game.  They will not play any of the state’s top teams till the latter end of April.  Led by seniors Alex Crane, Cam Parker and goalie Julian Skotheim-Hillis, they’ll sit comfortable till then.  Benefiting from gaining experience to their depth charts over their conference opponents. The state’s top titans will be checked this weekend, facing some stiff competition from around the region.  Who will emerge as the state’s top teams next week? 

Middleweights

After getting hammered in Nevada, the dark horse Skyline Spartans, showed promise in thier junior stallion midfielder Jack Pruitt.  Note the Spartans were without Pruitt during their desert campaign. Northshore's Foster Wisman also showed strong leadership and finishing skills.  They will need to find answers on defense to avoid playing catch-up with teams this season.  Evidence by their loss on Saturday to Tacoma 17-10 and Wisman with only two assists.  Tacoma pulled a nice win over the weakened Northshore opponent, leaving many to guess how the Southwest conference will shake out to be this season.  Not far behind Bainbridge are the King's Way Knights sitting comfortably, cruising past their opponents this last week.  A fairly easy schedule for the Knights must be cool not having to play on the road until mid-April.   

Lightweights

In Division II, Snohomish and Sammamish came up with easy wins and sit on the top on the division rankings.  Woodinville snagged two wins, downing highly regarded Providence 11-4 and then North County 19-7.  Colter Clinch and JD Chapman emerged quickly as division point leaders.  In addition Whatcom, Redmond and Three Rivers also jumped to 2-0 starts.    

Looking Ahead...

This weekend the 6^th Annual Northwest Invitational will draw lots eyes, as the state’s top teams battle against other regional powerhouses.  All the top five teams will be tested amounting to a weekend filled with lacrosse action.  Meanwhile, some Division II games to watch this week are San Juan at Providence and a metro match-up between Roosevelt and Nathan Hale. 

"Baller of the Week"- Alexander Rabin & Kevin Powers

Sorry, but the first Baller of the Week had to be a tie.  Senior Bainbridge attackman Alexander Rabin quickly became the point leader, as of early Monday with 14 goals in three games, as Bainbridge crushed their early season opponents.  He has shown some quality finishing skills, but we’ll see this weekend as his squad faces Claremont Schools and O.E.S in a double header.  Senior Issaquah midfielder Kevin Powers brought down Thor's Hammer scoring ten goals in his first game and got two more in the Eagles’ next game against Lake Washington.  He sits second in points behind Rabin.  Issaquah, like Bainbridge will be tested this weekend against O.E.S as well, should be a nice gauge against Bainbridge and Centennial. 

"Game of the Week"- Skyline Spartans 16 @ Northshore 15

It was a game complete with comebacks, lead changes, and All-American performances, all under the turbulent spring weather.  Northshore’s Foster Wisman made a strong statement as his team’s leader; pulling out seven goals in the second half. Eventually, he brought his team to within one goal of Skyline with mere seconds remaining on the clock.  Attackman Alex Bus proved a good compliment to Wisman on offense.  Jack Pruitt the workhorse, was a threat all over the field and quite possibly a candidate for All-American as a junior with a three goal five assist performance; he’s the King Leonidas of this Skyline squad. They also showed some good finishing ability from attackmen Ryan Benz and Max Saffle.  This weekend they will have their work cut out, facing Claremont and O.E.S.  Will they prove their dark horse abilities or be swept away like in Nevada?