Outlaws lacrosse team nets two more wins in league play

The Sisters boys lacrosse team continued to dominate league play, defeating Marist 6-3 at home on Tuesday, May 9, and Summit 12-4 two days later.

Sisters’ game with Marist was evidence of what should prove to be a great rivalry considering the fact Sisters and Marist will be in the same conference next year.

Coach Bill Rexford told The Nugget that Marist’s only loss coming into the game with the Outlaws was to Corvallis; earlier in the season the Outlaws had split games with Corvallis at a jamboree in Portland.

Marcus Gaboni and Jacob Evans each scored two goals for the Outlaws against Marist and Doug Emberton and Nick Pepperling each scored once.

Trevor Summers led Sisters with six groundballs and Emberton, Evans and Dalton James each had five.

“The Outlaws won this battle, despite the Marist team playing a highly skilled and less physical game than they are accustomed to playing,” said Coach Rexford. “It was great to see our boys focus on their skills to win and not so much on physical courage and heart. They showed that, too, but if we are to get better we need to start playing a more finesse game, which they did today.

“Our program is strong — we ran four midlines, two attack lines and subbed freely on defense. Every player on our roster contributed and we ended up outrunning the Marist team.”

Two days later Sisters earned a big 12-4 win at Summit, the Outlaws’ second win over the Storm this season.

Both teams had improved since the first match-up but there was never a doubt about who would walk away with the win. The Outlaws raced to a 7-1 lead after the first quarter of play.

Rexford told The Nugget his team showed heart in the second and third quarters but were only able to score one goal.

“In the fourth quarter we settled down and scored four more times and played some of the prettiest lacrosse of the season,” said Rexford. “And, once again, our defense was tenacious.”

Doug Emberton led the Outlaws with three goals and eight ground balls. Jacob and Jeremy Evans each scored two goals and single goals came from Galaen Deleon, Nick Pepperling, Tyson Edmunson, Mark Peck and Jordan Kolb.

Jeremy Evans had eight ground balls in the game and Jeremy Evans had seven.

Rexford noted that Emery Myer, Mike Hernandez, Caleb Maier and Darin Muller kept the Summit attack from getting off quality shots and what shots they did get off were gobbled up by goalie Thad Anderson.

“The first midfield line of Emberton, Pepperling and Summers controlled the play of the game and provided much needed physical play between the restraining lines,” said Rexford.

But, what really impressed Rexford was the quality of play of his second and third midlines.

“Most teams are much weaker after the first midline,” said Rexford. “But, what sets us apart is that we have three midlines that can bring it and contribute. Jordan Kolb, Marcus Gaboni, John Liming, Jacob Evans and Galaen Deleon are getting better with every game, and after them we still have Michael Christiano, Dalton James and Jack Yinger that all contribute.

“Some of our best games come in practice where the boys really get after each other and push each other to become better lacrosse players,” added Rexford. “For a second-year program we’re hitting on all cylinders.”

Goalie Thad Anderson told The Nugget that there is definitely pressure playing at the goalie position.

“It’s hard and there’s a lot of pressure,” said Anderson. “Those balls come at you 30 to 40 miles per hour. I could never do well as a goalie without the defenders that back me up. They’re probably my favorite players because without them there’s just no way I could block every single goal.”

The Outlaws are currently 6-1 and will play at Redmond on Tuesday, May 16, and then will host Bend at home on Wednesday, May 17.