Lacrosse finishes season with a win

The boys lacrosse team solidified its status as league leader when it crushed Summit 8-4 on Wednesday, May 24, in Sisters.

The Outlaws lost to Bend in their previous outing and were determined to end the season on a high note. Sisters scored quickly off a rocket shot by Doug Emberton.

Sisters controlled the ball for most of the first half but was only up by two at the half, 4-2.

“Summit has a couple of kids that can really shoot, but we were dominating the game but just couldn’t finish our opportunities,” said Coach Bill Rexford. “In fact, at halftime Coach Lacy (Summit’s coach) and I really had nothing to say to the boys other than to keep doing what they were doing and it would pay off.”

Sisters continued to dominate the third quarter and was able to stretch its lead to four.

“It was great to watch,” said Rexford. “Lacrosse, unlike other sports, is played by the players and there is little the coach can do for the players out on the field. Just watching our guys attack the cage, look for each other for another pass and call for help was awesome.”

Doug Emberton led the onslaught for the Outlaws with four goals and 15 groundballs. Nick Pepperling added three goals for the Outlaws and Gaelan Deleone contributed one. Jeremy Evans had 11 groundballs and John Liming added eight more.

Emberton led the team all season offensively and Rexford said there wasn’t a team in the league that could contain him. Goalie Thad Anderson led the team on the defensive end.

“Nick (Pepperling) provided leadership for us in many areas,” said Rexford, “and Jeremy and Jacob (Evans) quietly did everything I asked of them. They were consistent, solid and caring.”

Rexford noted that Trevor Summers played at multiple positions and would do anything for the team and said Caleb Maier was a terrific defenseman and a groundball hog.

“Mike (Hernandez) was a mature, responsible and consistent player and John (Liming) was the best faceoff player in the league. Emery (Myer) was smart, skilled and tough and Michael (Cristiano) was energetic, willing and dedicated,” added Rexford.

Emberton said, “Our team improved a lot this year but we still have room to get better on groundballs, communication, shooting and working together as a team. I think we had a pretty good season and I’m happy with how we did. We added a lot of new players to the team and we all got better. I’m really looking forward to next year because we’re scheduled to play teams that are better than us and that will make us better too.”

Rexford said, “All the work we have done this year was evident on the field today. Losing to Bend last week was probably the best thing that happened to us because the boys rose to the challenge and played their best game of the year. We saved our best for last and now I can hardly wait for next season.”

Rexford told The Nugget he felt his team improved in many areas over the course of the season, especially in the area of stick skills, sportsmanship and teamwork.

“We need to keep improving in all areas,” said Rexford.

“We are still a young program and we won’t lose a single player.

This same cast is coming back, not one senior on the team, so there is no sadness in saying goodbye, there is only expectation of more good things to come for this group.

They have the ability to serve notice next year that Sisters Lacrosse is a premier program in the state.

Most teams take three to five years to establish themselves, but these guys can do it next year.

We will take on the best teams next year, learn our lessons, and get better.

I want these guys to enjoy the process of improving and realize that they can accomplish great things if they do the work necessary to get it done.

It’s the same in the classroom and with all worthwhile goals we set in life.”