Outlaws lacrosse faces tough Portland teams

The Sisters High School lacrosse team headed to Portland over spring break to test themselves against two top quality teams. The Outlaws matched up against Liberty on Tuesday, April 1 and faced Lincoln the following day.

Due to injuries Sisters suffered against Sprague in the previous game, the Outlaws were forced to play without starters Shawn Maurer, Gaelan Deleone and Marcus Gaboni. Several Outlaws received concussions due to some high stick rough play.

The Outlaws played hard and outshot Liberty in the first half of Tuesday's game. Sisters gave Liberty a run for their money but at the half trailed 6-2 in the contest. By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Outlaws had closed the gap to 6-4, but without a deep bench they just couldn't keep up.

"Untimely penalties and our inability to stop Liberty's man-up opened the flood gates, and we ended up losing 12-4," said Coach Bill Rexford. "If we'd had kept out of the penalty box, I think we would have had a shot at beating them. Our offense was getting shots, but their goalie was terrific."

Dominic Nieri was cleared to play after his injury in the game against Sprague just hours before the team left for Portland and, according to coach Rexford was unstoppable.

Emery Meyer has benefited from playing against Ashton Sims and Nate Emberton in practice and was a leader on defense. He held his attackman and cleared the ball well. Billy Sampson and Nic Reuter got playing time due to the injuries that kept players on the bench and were a great contribution to the team. Rexford said that both players got better with every second on the field.

"I love watching all the boys play," said Rexford, "but right now Ian Stark and Carrol Gryder are electrifying. Ian is like a Tasmanian Devil out there and is a fury of energy. Sticks seem to just fly around the field when he is out there. His size is his advantage, and opposing players don't see him, and by the time they realize what is happening, it is too late. He's like a pit butt out there and just won't let go. When Carroll can show his athleticism he is fantastic. As his stick skills improve, he will be a force to be reckoned with."

Rexford noted that "we needed a good game after the savage game against Sprague."

Rexford told The Nugget that Sprague has come under close scrutiny from the OHSLA since their game with the Oultaws and as a result have a three-man officiating crew for all of their games. A couple of Sprague players have been removed from the team, and Rexford said it looks like they are back on the right track.

The very next night Sisters had a fantastic exhibition game against Lincoln. The Outlaws played their varsity for two quarters, and then both teams played their JV for three quarters.

After two quarters the Outlaws were down a couple of goals but proved they can play with the best.

Nolan Titchner received the game ball for the Lincoln game. Titchner was thrust into a starting role when Gaboni was sidelined and, according to Rexford, gives his all every second he is on the filed.

The contest ended in an 11-9 loss. The JV actually won the last two quarters of the game.

"That is quite an achievement for our boys," said Rexford. "The Lincoln kids have been playing for years and participate in camps and clinics year round, and their coaching staff are all college players. Our Sisters kids were just meant to play lacrosse, and no clinic can teach a kid how to be tough and scrap. Skill wise it ain't pretty what we do, but the effort is beautiful. I thought I could put this team up against any in the state and I was right."

Rexford added: "That is what is fun about our program right now. We are underdogs and play with nothing to lose. Our main goal of this trip was to get better, and we did."

The Outlaws will host Hermiston on Friday, April 11 in their first home game of the season.