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Local lacrosse comes up big at Battle of Bothell

June 23, 2009

By Christopher Huber

By Christopher Huber
They didn’t have it in the bag, but going into last weekend’s Battle of Bothell, the Issaquah Silver fifth- and sixth-grade lacrosse team was confident about its chances of winning the tournament championship.
The boys, some from Sammamish, some from Issaquah, had won it in 2008 and looked to capitalize on its player experience and disciplined conditioning.
They did, and after easily winning the first few rounds on the waterlogged North Creek playfields, Issaquah Silver out-shot and out hustled Beaverton, Ore. in a 7-3 championship victory.
“In the early rounds it was pretty easy, but it started getting a little harder. In the championship round it was pretty tough,” said standout 5/6 attackman Jordan Greenhall. “Beaverton, they had a couple of really strong middies that were really good.”
The annual Battle of Bothell tournament featured 62 teams from around the Northwest, including dozens of local teams and some from Oregon and Canada, with players ranging in age from fifth- to eleventh-grade.
Parents and players gathered at the North Creek Playfields June 19-21 to enjoy a weekend of lacrosse.
In the end, the teams had played 107 games combined, said tournament coordinator Stan Kosick. It was the first year Battle of Bothell had rain.
“We started out real strong,” said Silver 5/6 coach Scott Johnston. “We dominated ground balls and we dominated faceoffs, which was the main thing.”
Greenhall said his team got out to an early 3-0 lead and bolstered it with three more before halftime. They led 6-2 at the break. Sam Britt held strong in the goal in the second half.
“Sam played really well,” Greenhall said. “He made lots of saves.”
But, as it had throughout the day June 21, the weather intervened and forced an early decision. Issaquah became the repeat Battle of Bothell 5/6 champions, winning 7-3 on account of lightning.
“It was just really fun and exciting to win again,” Greenhall said.
He scored one goal and had two assists and four ground balls in the final match. Teammate Tyler Johnston had a game-high three goals with two assists and two ground balls.
“The tournament’s a blast,” Johnston said. “These kids all worked hard and they deserved it. The one thing our kids were is well conditioned kids.”
The Issaquah High School Purple crew managed to win its way to the final in Bothell, but lost 6-3 to annual powerhouse Lake Oswego, Ore. The game got a late start due to thunder and lightning storms.
“Part of it was we came out pretty flat and we just couldn’t finish,” said midfielder Nate Bean. “They reset well. “(We) didn’t move the ball quick enough and they recovered really well.”
Although the high schoolers didn’t repeat a Battle-of-Bothell win in 2009, Bean said it was still nice to play in the final. Being a post-season, mostly for-fun tournament, there was less pressure to win.
“Whenever you get to the top of anything it’s always nice. It was thrilling, but I want to call it fun,” Bean said. “I think it’s such a big deal because it’s a summer kickoff.”
The Issaquah Youth Lacrosse league fielded other teams as well, including the 7/8 purple, gold and green teams. The Eastlake and Sammamish lacrosse leagues also fielded teams.
“It’s a great tournament, I think because you get to play against other teams from Oregon and teams from around Seattle. It’s pretty fun,” said eighth-grader Nick Mauzy after the tournament. “It’s great that they can get all the teams to come down here.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.

They didn’t have it in the bag, but going into last weekend’s Battle of Bothell, the Issaquah Silver fifth- and sixth-grade lacrosse team was confident about its chances of winning the tournament championship.

The boys, some from Sammamish, some from Issaquah, had won it in 2008 and looked to capitalize on its player experience and disciplined conditioning.

Issaquah 5/6 Silver standout attackman Jordan Greenhall sets to fire a scoring shot against Maple Valley. Photo by Charles Mauzy/IYL

Issaquah 5/6 Silver standout attackman Jordan Greenhall sets to fire a scoring shot against Maple Valley. Photo courtesy Charles Mauzy/IYL

They did, and after easily winning the first few rounds on the waterlogged North Creek playfields, Issaquah Silver out-shot and out hustled Beaverton, Ore. in a 7-3 championship victory.

“In the early rounds it was pretty easy, but it started getting a little harder. In the championship round it was pretty tough,” said standout 5/6 attackman Jordan Greenhall. “Beaverton, they had a couple of really strong middies that were really good.”

The annual Battle of Bothell tournament featured 62 teams from around the Northwest, including dozens of local teams and some from Oregon and Canada, with players ranging in age from fifth- to eleventh-grade.

Parents and players gathered at the North Creek Playfields June 19-21 to enjoy a weekend of lacrosse.

In the end, the teams had played 107 games combined, said tournament coordinator Stan Kosick. It was the first year Battle of Bothell had rain.

“We started out real strong,” said Silver 5/6 coach Scott Johnston. “We dominated ground balls and we dominated faceoffs, which was the main thing.”

Greenhall said his team got out to an early 3-0 lead and bolstered it with three more before halftime. They led 6-2 at the break. Sam Britt held strong in the goal in the second half.

“Sam played really well,” Greenhall said. “He made lots of saves.”

But, as it had throughout the day June 21, the weather intervened and forced an early decision. Issaquah became the repeat Battle of Bothell 5/6 champions, winning 7-3 on account of lightning.

“It was just really fun and exciting to win again,” Greenhall said.

He scored one goal and had two assists and four ground balls in the final match. Teammate Tyler Johnston had a game-high three goals with two assists and two ground balls.

“The tournament’s a blast,” Johnston said. “These kids all worked hard and they deserved it. The one thing our kids were is well conditioned kids.”

The Issaquah High School Purple crew managed to win its way to the final in Bothell, but lost 6-3 to annual powerhouse Lake Oswego, Ore. The game got a late start due to thunder and lightning storms.

“Part of it was we came out pretty flat and we just couldn’t finish,” said midfielder Nate Bean. “They reset well. “(We) didn’t move the ball quick enough and they recovered really well.”

Although the high schoolers didn’t repeat a Battle-of-Bothell win in 2009, Bean said it was still nice to play in the final. Being a post-season, mostly for-fun tournament, there was less pressure to win.

“Whenever you get to the top of anything it’s always nice. It was thrilling, but I want to call it fun,” Bean said. “I think it’s such a big deal because it’s a summer kickoff.”

The Issaquah Youth Lacrosse league fielded other teams as well, including the 7/8 purple, gold and green teams. The Eastlake and Sammamish lacrosse leagues also fielded teams.

“It’s a great tournament, I think because you get to play against other teams from Oregon and teams from around Seattle. It’s pretty fun,” said eighth-grader Nick Mauzy after the tournament. “It’s great that they can get all the teams to come down here.”

Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.

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Written by Christopher Huber · Filed Under Sports 

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