Boys lacrosse tops Storm for league win

The Outlaws were ecstatic over their 6-3 win against Summit at home on Monday, April 11. The victory marked the Outlaws' first win against the Storm in over three years.

Sebastian Boehm and Beau Fitzke led the Outlaws in scoring with two goals each. Boehm scored both goals on fast breaks and Fitzke scored on dodges at the top of the box. Connor Morgan added another goal on a fast break and Will Saunders came from behind the goal and drove around the crease to score.

Coach Bill Rexford told The Nugget that goalie Brennan Layne was the reason the Outlaws pulled off the win. Layne recorded 28 saves in the game.

Sisters came off a big high in their win against Summit only to get the wind knocked out of them with a 6-8 loss to Bend two days later.

Beau Fitzke and Will Saunders led the Outlaws in scoring with two goals each, and Connor Morgan and Scott Nelson each added one.

One of Fitzke's goals was a beautiful shot from 18 yards out. Fitzke dodged a defender and sent the ball straight in, where it deflected off the goalie's hip and into the back of the net.

Saunders' first goal went in despite the fact he was slashed in the face.

"I ran from behind the goal and the defender picked me up and slashed me in the head," said Saunders. "I turned and took the shot and it went into the bottom corner of the cage."

A flag was thrown and a penalty was called on Bend's defender. Bend had to play one man down for one minute, which gave Sisters an advantage. The Outlaws capitalized on the opportunity, and Scott Nelson took an open shot from seven yards out. The ball took a low bounce and went under the goalie's stick and into the left corner of the net.

Bend scored eight goals in the contest to win by two.

Saunders said, "Bend has depth, and their players are very strong. After our big win against Summit we were a little cocky and we weren't expecting Bend to be as much of a challenge as they were."

On April 16, the Outlaws lost by one to Hood River, 7-6.

Sisters struggled from the start, and Rexford stated that to watch his team not play to their potential was frustrating.

"We were playing tentative and holding our sticks too tight," said Rexford.

The Outlaws found themselves down 7-2 in the fourth quarter before they finally got it together and focused on the game. Sisters came back and scored six goals to narrow Hood River's lead to one.

"If we would have had a few more minutes we would have tied it up," said Rexford. "We need to do the little things right, and if we do that, big things will happen."

The Outlaws will travel to Harney on April 21, then host Hermiston on April 23.