In their first conference matchup of the year, the Bainbridge High varsity boys lacrosse team very nearly scored a shutout win against the visitors from Ballard Tuesday, March 20, upping their overall season record to 3-1.
The final score was 12-1.
The Spartans got on the board first, leapt out front early and led handily throughout, with the Beavers barely managing a late-match single goal to avoid the shutout in the final moments.
Ballard (0-3, overall) is a new team to the 3A Metro Division 1 lineup this season.
Despite the less arduous challenge that the match presented for the Spartans, the night was not without learning opportunities, said Assistant Coach Jacob Hayashi.
“It’s good; we get to get the younger guys in, more inexperienced guys to get in, and get some time, so that’s always really nice,” he said. “The starters get to work on things, so it’s a little less pressure, I suppose.”
Once coaches were confident the Spartans had snagged the lead, Hayashi said, the night became about tactics — specifically, the ones that need some work.
“All the things we’d been working on in practice,” he said. “Just kind of fine-tuning it in game situations.”
While the Ballard beating may have been deceptively easy, Hayashi said it may also act as a bit of a potentially much-needed confidence booster for the boys as they get set for a series of especially challenging outings in the next few days, starting with a road match against the especially skillful stickmen at O’Dea on Thursday, March 22.
From there, they began a three-game nonleague series against Sunset, Grant and Columbine before returning to conference play, hosting Eastside Catholic at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27.
Hayashi, who also serves as team spokesman, gave special kudos Tuesday to junior Merritt McMahon, who scored four goals against Ballard, and senior co-captain, goalie Charlie Shrout, who managed 11 saves for 12 shots.
“Charlie’s been huge for us,” he said. “He’s been a staple on this team for a long time.”
Overall, the team was shaping up nicely on both sides, the coach said, with cautious optimism.
“The offense in general is doing a nice job,” Hayashi said. “Defense kind of holds it down always.”
