'Men’s JV'
Sandpoint Schedule and Directions
This weekend the Men’s Varsity and JV are traveling to Sandpoint, ID for a couple games. We have had a great relationship with Sandpoint Lacrosse over the years and are looking forward to the weekend. Below is the schedule for the day.
11 am: MEL Varsity v Sandpoint Varsity
1 pm: MEL JV v Sandpoint JV
3 pm: MEL Varsity v Sandpoint Varsity
Players please remember to bring team shorts and mouth guards!
We will be playing at Centennial Fields, same venue as past seasons. Here are the MapQuest Directions
Shootout Re-Cap: Men’s JV
KENNEWICK, WA – This weekend the Missoula Elite Lacrosse JV team traveled to the 2010 Three Rivers Shootout in Kennewick, WA. The whole team was pretty nervous going into their first game of the shootout. For many of them it was their second game ever. However they played a great physical game. Despite being man down for almost the entirety of the game, the defense led by Lee Raunig (SO, Hellgate) and Dave Anderson (FR, Frenchtown), held the Three Rivers JV team to only 3 goals. Logan Kuhn (FR, Hellgate), who scored 2 goals, led the offense.
For their second game JV came out flat and lost 7-2 to Mukilteo. Kuhn again scored our only goals of the game. After having a team meeting the boys were ready to go again. Next up was Sandpoint who had beaten us 7-0 only a few weeks earlier. In a winning effort Kuhn scored 3 goals and Al Plant (FR, Arlee) also chipped in with his first goal of the season. The defense held strong and Colton Birdeau (SO, Sentinel) had an excellent game in goal. JV took the game 4-3 for their first win of the season.
After ending the day on a high note the team went back to the hotel with the Varsity team and had a relaxing evening. The next morning JV was ready to play Selah. During their best game to date we had excellent teamwork and good balanced scoring. Plant scored 2 goals, Kuhn chipped in 1, Blue Hayler (FR, Big Sky) scored his first goal of the season, as did Anderson. Connor Skiftun (FR, Hellgate) also had an impressive goal that was unfortunately called back. Felipe Perez (SO, Hellgate) and Raunig anchored the defense with physical play throughout. At half time JV was winning, however the other team decided they wanted the win and put in a few varsity players who had no trouble scoring on our inexperienced team. JV lost this one 7-5.
Overall it was a great weekend with the team progressing throughout each game. We are looking forward to playing Sandpoint again this weekend.
Featured Player
Jake Smith – Freshman, Men’s Junior Varsity
Jake is a 14 year old freshman at Sentinel High School. Jake played lacrosse in the Flagship program at Meadow Hill Middle School. He just finished “The Next Level” program, getting himself ready for the spring season. Jake recently took a few minutes to tell us a bit about himself.
Why did you start playing lacrosse?
“Because it’s an awesome sport. I found out about it from [James Pyke] in our school Flagship program.”
What is your favorite memory from last season?
“It would probably have to be during the Jamboree, taking [the ball] up and getting an assist to Jack.”
What are you most looking forward to this season?
“My hope for this season is that we will win some games.”
Why did you choose to play defense?
“I chose [defense] because you get to hit people, and usually not get hit.”
What skill would you most like to improve on?
“Definitely sliding technique.”
What is your favorite subject in school?
“That would have to be small engines.”
Any plans for college?
“I’ve been looking a little at Annapolis actually.”
Shootout Scrimmage
On Sunday, Oct. 4, members of the Missoula Elite Lacrosse Men’s Varsity and Junior Varsity teams competed in an inter-squad scrimmage as part of the 3rd Annual Montana Shootout, hosted by The University of Montana Men’s Lacrosse team.
“Team Black” edged “Team White” in a 7-5 game that showcased players from the two programs. Junior Varsity attackers Jack Lundin (SO, Hellgate) and Logan Kuhn (FR, Hellgate) quarterbacked their respective offenses and led all scorers, with Lundin putting up a five-point performance and Logan Kuhn chipping in a trio of goals.
Varsity midfielders Coty Becker (JR, Sentinel), Matt Gosselin (SR, Big Sky), and Colter Lear (SR, Hellgate) controlled the ground ball game, transition play, and each contributed on the scoreboard as well. Becker finished the day with 2 goals and an assist. Other scorers on the day included Dane Kuhn (SR, Hellgate), Joel Colbert (SR, Hellgate), and Tanner Pace (SO, Big Sky), who each chipped in a goal. Both teams defenses played well, as did goalkeepers Rian Tuttle (SR, Hellgate) and Lance Altmaier (SR, Hellgate) who each finished with 5 saves.
Thanks to everybody who attended the event, especially supporters who came over from the Missoula Elite Fall Golf Scramble and The UM Men’s Lacrosse team for playing host. Also a huge thanks to the Kuhn’s, Gosselin’s, Reisner’s, Anderson’s, and all other family who worked concessions over the weekend to help support our program, it was greatly appreciated.
Summer Lax in Bozeman
On Saturday, June 27th, the Missoula Elite Lacrosse summer high school men’s team traveled to Bozeman for a game against the Gallatin Valley Lacrosse team. Both teams were evenly matched and the game slugged out for two overtime periods before the hosting Bozeman team converted a fast break game winner. The final score was 5-4 in favor of Bozeman.
Offensively, the MEL boys were led by Dane Kuhn (SR, Hellgate), who chipped in two goals at attack, and Matt Gosselin (SR, Big Sky) who put in two goals from the midfield and also recorded an assist. Midfielders Tanner Pace (SO, Big Sky), Al Plant (FR, Arlee), and Logan Kuhn (FR, Hellgate) all had solid performances, especially in the clearing game, and Mike Vessey (Grad, Sentinel) and Ryan Fowler (SO, Big Sky) set the tone on the defensive side of the midfield by laying some crushing hits during the contest.
Defenders Joel Colbert (SR, Hellgate), Mike Lloyd (Grad, Sentinel), and Jake Smith (FR, Sentinel) each had good performances, winning at least 5 ground balls each during the game. Goaltender Rian Tuttle (SR, Hellgate) had another great game in goal, recording 14 saves on the day and Colten Birdeau (SO, Sentinel) stepped in for a few minutes of leading the team in cage when Rian went down to injury during the 1st quarter.
Overall, it was a good growing experience for some of the younger players on the MEL roster and the team is looking forward to their rematch with Bozeman on July 18th here in Missoula. Thanks to the GVLL program for hosting and for all the families who made the trek to Bozeman.
Inaugural Weekend
On Saturday, May 2nd, Missoula Elite Lacrosse teams traveled to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to participate in the first games in program history. MEL’s inaugural game featured the Men’s Varsity team taking on host Coeur d’Alene Vikings. The host Vikings got on the board quickly against a road-weary MEL team and lead 5-0 only 7 minutes into the game. Following the first quarter break, the boys from Missoula found their legs and play increased dramatically. Midfielder Trevor Johnson (SO, Sentinel) notched the program’s first goal in the 2nd quarter and the defense, anchored by Goaltender Rian Tuttle (JR, Hellgate), shutout the Vikings for the quarter. The third quarter was very evenly played, with each team playing solid defensively and each scoring once in the quarter. Midfielder Colter Lear (JR, Hellgate) found the net for MEL after a great feed from Attackman Dylan Gross (JR, Hellgate). The 4th quarter started out very physical with teams trading blows in the first 6 minutes. Attackman Dane Kuhn (JR, Hellgate) scored his first goal on an isolation from the wing and the team started working through their offense well to generate shots. Unfortunately Kuhn’s goal would be the lone goal of the quarter for MEL and the host Vikings started finding some holes in the tired MEL defense and ended up winning the contest 13-3. Goaltender Rian Tuttle was awarded the game ball for his 12 save performance.
Following the MEL Men’s Varsity game, the Men’s JV team played it’s first game ever. The boys played hard against the more experienced University High, WA, program and were excited to hit the field for the first time. Goaltender Colten Birdeau (FR, Sentinel) shined early on and had netted 12 saves by the end of the first half. The midfield was paced by Albert Plant III (8th, Arlee) and Logan Kuhn (8th, Washington). who did a great job clearing the ball and working it to the attack. Attackman Hunter Brant (FR, Big Sky) and Tanner Pace (FR, Big Sky) both worked the ball well offensively and found shots early and the boys took away a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge from their first game.
In the Men’s Varsity team’s second game of the day, the boys went to battle against Three Rivers, Washington. The teams looked very even in the opening quarter and MEL went into the second down 2-1, with Attackman Dane Kuhn netting a goal. In the second quarter the Coyotes from the Tri-Cities dominated at the face off X and were able to push a number of transition goals past the MEL defense. At halftime the Varsity boys made some adjustments to their game and were able to evenly pace the Coyotes for the rest of the contest. Led by a pair of 4th quarter goals from Attackman Lance Altmaier (JR, Hellgate), the MEL team won the second half 3-2 and finished with a very respectable 11-5 final score. Attackman Dane Kuhn was awarded the game ball for his 3 goal performance and Goaltender Rian Tuttle finished with 10 saves. Defenseman Joel Colbert (JR, Hellgate) paced the defense all game and finished with 6 groundballs. Midfielder Coty Becker (SO, Sentinel) had a team high 7 groundballs and pushed the ball effectively in transition throughout the game, along with line mate Matt Gosselin (JR, Big Sky).
The MEL Men’s JV team wrapped up the day’s action following the second Varsity game with another solid performance against the host Coeur d’Alene Vikings. Attackman Eli Hampson (FR, Hellgate) netted the team’s first goal ever during the contest and Goaltender Colten Birdeau had another great game in the cage. Missoula Elite Lacrosse would like to thank University High and Three Rivers for meeting us in Coeur d’Alene and a big thanks to the host Vikings for putting on a great day of lacrosse!
