Boys lacrosse lose to Ridgeview

The Outlaws played hard the first half against Ridgeview on Thursday, April 13, but couldn’t keep up in the second half and lost the contest 11-5.

Sisters started the game with 13 players — the most they’ve had all season — which gave them three subs to back up their first middle line. The Ravens scored in the first thirty seconds on a fast break after an Outlaw turnover, but a minute later Evan Martin evened the score on a nice catch and finish shot.

About midway through the quarter the Ravens scored again, but the Outlaws knotted it up when Eli Palanuk hit a great shot from close range with one minute left on the clock.

Ridgeview got the first score of the second quarter, and once again the Outlaws tied it up with a goal from Adam Maddox-Castle to make it a 3-3 game. Sisters got the go-ahead goal from Mason Sellers with just under four minutes to go in the half. The Outlaws couldn’t hold on to the lead as the Ravens scored twice in the last few minutes to take a 5-4 lead at the half. The Ravens’ leading scorer, Ryder Yozamp, scored their first four goals of the game.

Sisters was held scoreless in the third quarter while Ridgeview knocked in two more goals, the final one with just 30 seconds left in the quarter. At the close of the third the Outlaws trailed 4-7.

The Outlaws got a bit worn down in the final quarter, and the Ravens pulled away with four more goals, two in the last minute of the game. Maddox-Castle finished the Outlaws’ scoring with a behind-the-head shot off a feed from Gus Patton.

Coach Paul Patton said, “I was very pleased with the team’s effort and positive attitude throughout the contest. To be honest, with our low numbers we don’t get to practice any full game-like scrimmage, and that makes it hard to execute well in real games. We need to get as many game-like reps in practice as we can so that we can take care of the ball a little better and convert more of our scoring opportunities.”

Four of the LAX players are dual-sport athletes (Sellers and Maddox-Castle also play baseball, and Kyle Pilarski and Corbin Fredland do track), which also affects the Outlaws’ game-day readiness. Patton told The Nugget he’s grateful to have them on the team as they’ve played enough lacrosse in the past to have the skills needed, and without them they wouldn’t have any subs. Former player Bodie Dachtler, who now attends Redmond Proficiency Academy, rejoined the Outlaws for the contest and helped out as a long stick defender.

Gus Patton played especially well for the Outlaws at middie and led the team in faceoff wins, ground balls, and assists, and in addition put forth a great defensive effort.

Coach Patton made note of several players he felt had a great game.

“Pilarski stood out as a defender and matched up against the Ravens’ best scorer. I was also pleased with the effort of Hunter Lea, who has recently taken up the long stick as a defender for us. Freshman Ian Landon looked good on the attack end of the field, dished out an assist, and got seven ground balls.”

The Outlaws were to travel to Hillsboro on Wednesday, April 19. They will play at Forest Grove on Friday, April 21.