Boys lacrosse advances to playoffs

The Outlaws lacrosse team started their week with a tough 10-6 loss to Summit on Tuesday, April 30. Sisters came back with heart and determination three days later to defeat Harney 15-2, which secured them a spot in the first round of the state playoffs. The Outlaws face Bend on Wednesday, May 8, at Hal Puddy field.

On Tuesday, Sisters went down 3-0 in the first quarter against the Storm. Mitch Keranen fed Drew Corrigan who knocked it in and closed the gap to 3-1. Summit responded and scored the next four goals to go up 7-1.

The Outlaws scored another goal when Gabe Reitmann passed to Scott Nelson on the crease and took the score to 7-2 at the half.

Coach Bill Rexford said, "Summit rode us hard and we turned the ball over on our clears. Summit shooters were having too many open looks at the cage."

Sisters came out determined in the second half and scored quickly with a great goal by Isaiah Glatz, who slashed through the defense for the score. Drew Corrigan scored early in the fourth quarter to bring the Outlaws to within three goals of the Storm.

Rexford commented on Summit's ensuing goal: "Summit scored on a nifty play by sliding a cutter through the crease in a 1-4-1 set and kept us from sliding effectively."

With just a few minutes left on the clock, Nelson answered with two more goals and brought the Outlaws to within two, at 8-6.

Sisters pressed out with their defenders to try to get the ball back, and Summit was able to score a couple more and increase their lead to 10-6.

"I am proud of how the boys responded," said Rexford. "We showed ourselves that we can play with the league leader. If we played with the same intensity in the second half as we did the first, we could have won the game."

The Outlaws were ready to face a tough Harney team on Friday. Sisters' players were focused and energized and dominated the game from end line to end line.

Sisters scored quickly and often, and at the close of the first quarter held a 6-0 lead. The Outlaws equaled their effort in the second quarter and tacked on another six goals.

Ground balls proved to be the difference in the game. The Outlaws scooped up 40 to Harney's 25 and out-shot Harney 26 to 16.

Coach Rexford stated, "Harney's goalie is averaging 80 percent saves this season, so our shot selection has improved and we are generating many good looks at the goal."

Leaders in the stat department were: Zach Valoppi with three goals and two assists, Gabe Reitmann with one goal and three assists, and Isaiah Glatz with three goals and one assist. Glatz also led the team with seven groundballs.

Rexford added, "It was a great week of lacrosse, two good games for two very different reasons. The first game, although a loss to Summit, proved to us that we are ready to compete for the league title but that it will take a determined and focused effort to do so. We are not the most skilled team, but when we are focused and play with our Outlaw energy our effort can overcome many challenges. On Friday, we got to see what happens when we bring forth our best effort."

The Outlaws will play in the SALI tournament which will be this Friday through Sunday, May 10-12.