'Men’s Varsity'
HS Boys Host Sandpoint on Saturday
On Saturday, March 19th, the Missoula Elite Lacrosse High School Boys Teams will host Sandpoint High School for a double-header of lacrosse action. The games will be played at the DeSmet School Fields in Missoula. The Black Team will host the Sandpoint JV Team at 11:30 AM, followed by the White Team hosting Sandpoint Varsity at 2 PM.
The rivalry with Sandpoint is the longest running of any MEL opponents and these games are always a good time. We invite all our other players, parents, fans, lacrosse enthusiasts, or anybody curious in checking out the action to come on down!
Directions to the field can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Cavalier Invitational Re-Cap
The High School Boys season is off to a great start! After only 2 outdoor practices before their games over the weekend at the Cavalier Invitational, both teams already look to be much improved over last year’s squads. The White Team was able to run their offense effectively all weekend and generated a lot of good scoring opportunities. The Black Team showed a lot of grit and heart, earning their first win of the season in their 4th game of the weekend.
On Friday, March 11th, the boys loaded up the bus in Missoula and hit the road for Bellingham. After a few movies, the teams stopped in Sammamish, Washington, to watch the Western Washington University Vikings host the St. John’s Johnnies (MN) in an MCLA-D2 match up. The game was a defensive battle for both teams and the boys stayed in the rain and watched as long as we could, before leaving at the start of the 4th quarter to finish the drive to Bellingham. St. John’s, who is ranked 5th nationally, would go on to win 7-6 over the Vikings.
Saturday morning the White Team played the first game of the 2011 season, showing ups and downs but eventually falling 9-5 to Skagit Valley. The team showed a lot of potential, but many players also seemed rusty from a long off-season and the new players still had some kinks to work out on the field. Coty Becker (SR, Valley Christian) and Jack Lundin (JR, Hellgate) led the offense, with Becker collecting a team-high 5 groundballs and Lundin scoring 2 goals. Becker, Spencer Schultz (SO, Hellgate), and Brylan Larson (JR, Big Sky) each scored once and Trevor Johnson (SR, Sentinel) dished out the game’s only assist. Larson’s goal was the first of his career, which is only a few weeks old. Defensively, the long poles chased a lot of sticks (a theme for the weekend) and 1 on 1 let downs led to a number of the Skagit goals allowed. Goaltender Brandon Roose (SR, Sentinel) registered 4 saves and cleared the ball well during the game.
The Black Team was next to face off on Saturday, kicking off their 2011 campaign against Lake Tapps. The team struggled early to find their legs, but eventually started to figure things out on the field. Griffin Williams (SO, Hellgate) and Logan Kuhn (SO, Hellgate) led the offense from the midfield, each chipping in a goal in the team’s 14-2 defeat. Kuhn also led the team in ground balls, collecting 5 in the game. Goaltender Nick Grimm (SO, Big Sky) registered 8 saves in his first game ever. Zane Nicholson (JR, Big Sky) and Jed Diehl (SO, Hellgate) both communicated well and played solid man-to-man defense in the defeat.
Following the morning games, the boys hopped on the bus and headed over to Western Washington University. The teams did a walking tour of the campus and stopped briefly at the WWU/Pacific Lutheran game, which was being played on Western’s campus, before stopping back at the hotel to rest up for a few hours.
Game 2 for the White Team came Saturday evening as the boys took on Wenatchee. Wenatchee looked much improved since last season and their offense took advantage of the White Team defense all game, en route to a 9-2 victory over the boys from Missoula. Coty Becker and Leroy Bearmedicine (SR, Loyola) each scored in the game and goaltender Brandon Roose registered 6 saves. It was Bearmedicine’s first career goal.
Immediately following the White game, the Black Team took on the hosting North County Cavaliers. The game was riddled with penalties, both called and ignored, and the Cavaliers chippy play and lack of respect for their opponent and the rules was really sad to see at this level of lacrosse. The Black Team stayed positive and did their best to honor the game, but they eventually fell in the contest 10-0. Logan Kuhn saw his first action in goal during the second half and finished with 2 saves. Griffin Williams played well from the midfield, collecting a team high 5 ground balls and winning 6 of 9 face-offs.
Sunday morning’s action kicked off with a trip to Civic Field, where the Black Team took on Whatcom JV in a scrimmage scheduled outside of the Cavalier Invitational. The game was a good opportunity for 2 young teams to get in an extra game and we thank the Whatcom program for putting things together.
Following the game at Civic Field, it was back to the Cavalier Invitational. The final game of the tournament for the White Team featured their toughest opponent, the 3-time defending tourney champions, the Overlake Owls. The White Team played well against the Owls, clearing the ball effectively and generating good looks on offense, however the shot quality was not very high overall and the team scored only 3 goals. Coty Becker chipped in 2 and Spencer Schultz tallied the other goal. Overlake looked solid throughout but had to fight tough for the 10-3 victory. Again, the defensive effort from the White Team needed to be improved and the Owls capitalized off of mistakes. Brandon Roose played well in goal, registering 7 saves in the contest. Midfielder Brylan Larson and LSM David Anderson (SO, Frenchtown) improved throughout the weekend on face-offs, combining for 16 groundballs on the weekend.
The last game for the Black Team featured the first win by the team in 2011, as the boys in Black took down Mount Si by a final of 8-4. Logan Kuhn led the offensive charge, netting a hat-trick in the victory. Griffin Williams, Connor Skiftun (SO, Hellgate), Kieran Hubber (JR, Hellgate), Cameron Klise (JR, Big Sky), and Blake Dufner (JR, Sentinel) each chipped in a goal; displaying the teams potential for balanced scoring. Many of the goals were career firsts. Goaltender Nick Grimm had a number of great saves, including some key stops to keep the Black Team in the lead late in the game. It was a great overall effort by the team and a great way to end the tournament.
On the way home from the tournament the teams stopped in Everett, Washington, to watch the NLL’s Washington Stealth take on the Calgary Roughnecks in a professional box lacrosse match up. The MEL teams were recognized at the game by the Stealth organization, which allowed the boys to form the tunnel on the field during the announcing of the starting line ups. Getting a high-five from superstar Paul Rabil became one of the highlights of the trip. The exciting NLL action was a great way to wrap up an excellent weekend of lacrosse… but it did make for a long overnight drive back to Missoula. The bus barely rolled into Missoula at 5:30 AM on Monday, bringing the trip to a close.
Huge thanks to the parents who chaperoned and fed the boys all weekend! Also big thanks to Chris Kelly and the rest of the Washington Stealth organization for treating the boys to a great experience!
The White and Black Teams will hit the field again this Saturday, March 19th, in Missoula as they take on Sandpoint High School. Stay tuned to www.missoulaelite.com for details.
Cavalier Invitational Preview
On Friday, March 11th, the Missoula Elite Lacrosse High School Boys White & Black Teams will be on the road for a series of weekend games at the 2011 Cavalier Invitational. The tournament is hosted by the North County Cavaliers and is held in Bellingham, Washington, at Whatcom Community College. This will be the first test for two young Missoula teams and the weekend is sure to bring some great action!
The bus takes off at noon on Friday from Missoula and marks the official start of competition for Missoula Elite Lacrosse in 2011. On the way to Bellingham, on Friday, the teams will be stopping outside Seattle to watch a top level MCLA-D2 match up between Western Washington University and St. John’s University.
Games kick off on Saturday at 9 AM when the White Team takes on Skagit Valley, who finished 3-10 last year in Washington’s Division II. The Black Team plays next at 12 PM against a young team from Washington’s Division I, the Lake Tapps Titans. Following each team’s first game, the boys will all head over to Western Washington University to watch the Vikings take on Pacific Lutheran in an MCLA-D2 match up. After the game the boys will tour the WWU campus. The next game on Saturday is at 6 PM when the White Team takes on the Wenatchee Panthers. The Panthers finished 2010 with a 15-2 record in Washington’s Division II and they beat the White Team last year in Kennewick 2-0. Saturday’s action concludes at 7 PM with the Black Team taking on the hosting North County Cavaliers. The Cavaliers finished 2010 with a 2-13 record in Washington’s Division II and they will look to these early season home games as a big push for their young team.
Sunday’s action kicks off at 9 AM when the Black Team takes on the Whatcom JV team. The JV team at Whatcom is in their first year and this will be their first game. The game will be played at the Civic Field Complex in Bellingham and is not part of the Cavalier Invitational, but it is a great opportunity for two young teams to get an extra game in. At 11 AM the teams will be back at the Invitational and the White Team will take on the Overlake Owls. The Owls had a strong 2010 season, finishing with a 9-7 record in Washington’s Division I. They are also the 3-time defending champions of the Cavalier Invitational. The last scheduled game on Sunday is for the Black Team at 2 PM, when they face off against the Mount Si Wildcats. If either team advances, playoffs begin following that game and can run until 7 PM. Following the games, the teams will hop on the bus for the long ride home to Missoula…
If you can’t make it to the games, you can follow the action throughout the weekend on our Facebook page, which we will be updating regularly.
SCHEDULE
Sat 3/12 – 9 AM: White Team vs. Skagit Valley
Sat 3/12 – 12 PM: Black Team vs. Lake Tapps
Sat 3/12 – 6 PM: White Team vs. Wenatchee
Sat 3/12 – 7 PM: Black Team vs. North County
Sun 3/13 – 9 AM: Black Team vs. Whatcom JV (at Civic Fields)
Sun 3/13 – 11 AM: White Team vs. Overlake
Sun 3/13 – 2 PM: Black Team vs. Mount Si
Sun 3/13 – 3 PM: #4 Seed vs. #5 Seed
Sun 3/13 – 4 PM: #3 Seed vs. #6 Seed
Sun 3/13 – 5 PM: Semi Final 1
Sun 3/13 – 6 PM: Semi Final 2
Sun 3/13- 7 PM: Championship
HS Boys Parent Meeting!
ATTENTION ALL HIGH SCHOOL BOYS PLAYERS AND PARENTS!
There will be an informational meeting about the 2011 Spring Season this MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, AT 7:00 PM IN THE SENTINEL CAFETERIA. Attendance is strongly encouraged, as parents will be receiving valuable information about the spring season.
If you are applying for financial aid, please make sure to turn in your registration packet and written scholarship request prior to this meeting. Otherwise partial or full dues payments can be made at the meeting.
If you have any questions please email kevin@missoulaelite.com.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS REGISTRATION CLOSES ON MARCH 1st!
TL17
On Tuesday, February 1st, the lacrosse community lost another young player to a tragic accident – Tyler Lucas of Issaquah High School in Washington. Tyler’s coach posted thoughts on walax.com, which we would encourage everyone to read by CLICKING HERE.
Although he was an “opponent” during the Space Needle Shootout only a few short months ago, Tyler was also one of us.
In memory of Tyler and to honor the game this season, the Missoula Elite High School Boys players will be wearing TL17 helmet decals. We hope these decals will help a community heal and all the proceeds will go to support Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, at request of the Lucas Family.
You can learn more about the TL17 project by CLICKING HERE.
One Game, One Love, Rest in Peace Tyler.
High School Boys Spring Preview
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS 2011 SPRING PREVIEW -
2011 is bringing MAJOR CHANGES to the High School Boys Program and we couldn’t be more excited!
The structure for 2011 is a significant change from our 2010 format… After a two-day tryout period, the High School Boys will be placed on either a White Team or Black Team, which they will practice with and travel to out-of-state tournaments and events with. Additionally, the boys will be playing for either the Knights, Eagles, or Spartans this spring in a city league run by Missoula Elite Lacrosse. The city league will feature 4 teams who will play games on most Thursdays and Saturdays during the season.
And if that wasn’t enough… the teams will also compete for the Montana High School Boys Lacrosse State Championships, held May 21st in Missoula… needless to say, there will be plenty of action this season for the High School Boys players!
ALL the High School Boys will also have the opportunity to earn a Varsity Letter in lacrosse this spring (assuming their school recognizes lacrosse) and so every player will also be taking part in our Team Study Hall program. The boys will get an upgraded facility this spring for their mandatory 2-hour per week sessions; The Payne Family Native American Center on The University of Montana Campus. This beautiful new building comes equipped with state of the art equipment and teaching tools and will also be used for Team Film Sessions throughout the season.
In addition to having the opportunity to study at a college campus every week, the High School Boys will also be taking campus tours at The University of Montana, Montana State University, Western Washington University, Portland State University, Gonzaga University, and North Idaho College throughout the season. We are excited to provide this enlightening opportunity this spring!
The High School Boys will begin their journey this season on March 2nd, for the start of the 2-day Tryout. On Friday, March 4th, the boys will be divided into their spring teams – White Team and Black Team – who will play a head-to-head scrimmage that day before The University of Montana Griz Lacrosse team hosts the Washington State University Cougars. The following weekend, March 11th-13th, both teams will travel to Bellingham, WA, to compete in the Cavalier Invitational. The White Team and Black Team will travel next to the Three Rivers Tournament in Kennewick, WA, on April 16th and 17th, where they hope to build off last year’s successes there. The final trip for the White Team and Black Team will be on May 6-8 as the team heads to Portland, OR, to take part in a series of exhibition games surrounding the PNCLL Championship Tournament. The boys will participate in a clinic hosted by college coaches and players and get to watch several of the west coast’s top college teams compete throughout the weekend.
Aside from the 10 games the High School Boys will play on the road this spring, we are also sooooo happy to be able to kick off our City League this spring. City League games between the Knights, Eagles, Spartans, and 10sticks Lacrosse will begin on March 17th when the Eagles host the Spartans. Each game on the calendar will be important this season, especially because all of the teams will have a good shot at bringing home the inaugural Montana High School Boys Lacrosse State Championship… so what better reason do you need to come out and cheer on your favorite local team?
The High School Boys will be coached this spring by returning Coaches Kevin Flynn and John Callon, also staff new-comer Max Reuter. Coach Flynn will be heading up the Hellgate Knights, Coach Callon will man the sidelines for the Big Sky Eagles, and Coach Reuter will lead the Sentinel Spartans in 2011. Coach Adam Foss will be joining the traveling teams again for a number of the road competitions this spring and we are happy to have all the coaches aboard!
The High School Boys are gearing up for a memorable 2011 season and we sincerely hope you will join them every step of the way… from our friends and fans, to the dedicated support staff, to the volunteers and coaches, to the players on the field… each one of us has a role.
Good luck to the all the High School Boys this Spring!
HS Boys Skills Competition
The MEL High School Boys wrapped up their fall season tonight with a skills competition. Brandon Roose (SR, Sentinel) dominated the competition and showed why goalies rule the game! Here were the results:
Right Handed Throwing: 1st- Brandon Roose, 2nd- Jack Lundin, 3rd- Andrew Brister
Left Handed Throwing: 1st- Brandon Roose, 2nd- Trevor Johnson, 3rd- Andrew Brister
Obstacle Course: 1st- Brandon Roose, 2nd- Jake Smith, 3rd- Al Plant & Andrew Brister (tie)
Thanks to all the boys for working hard this fall, we’ll see you in Seattle!
Space Needle Shootout
Missoula Elite Boys High School team will be traveling to Tukwila, WA to compete in the 2010 Space Needle Shootout. Over 60 Lacrosse teams from Washington, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Maryland and MONTANA will compete in this indoor tournament. All teams are guaranteed four games.
- DATES: Friday, December 3 – Sunday, December 5, 2010
- REGISTRATION: Due 11/1/2010 (*Trip waivers will be available for download shortly)
- COST:
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- $150 if paid by 11/1/2010
- $190 after 11/2/2010
- Player fees include:
- Tournament Team Fees
- Hotel
- Food
- Coaches Fees
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- TRAVEL:
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- Players are responsible for travel to/from Tukwila, WA. We anticipate several families traveling to the tournament, so we will assist in arranging carpools for anyone needing transportation.
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- QUESTIONS?
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- Contact Kevin with any questions: Kevin@missoulaelite.com
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Balanced Scoring Paces Men’s Varsity to Victory
COEUR D’ALENE, ID – On Saturday, May 8th, the MEL Men’s Varsity team traveled to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, to take on the Vikings JV Team. The game was a beneficial addition to the schedule for both teams and the weather was perfect for lacrosse. The Vikings opened the scoring and the teams traded goals in a first half battle. Missoula brought a new element to their game, with the attack initiating a tough ride all game long and really limiting the Vikings chances on offense. Missoula would rack up 23 shots in the first half, however only two would find the back of the net and the teams went into halftime with Missoula leading 3 – 2.
In the 3rd quarter the midfielders really started to pitch into the ride and cause turnovers. These turnovers led to a solid transition effort by the Missoula team, especially attackman Trevor Johnson (JR, Sentinel) who netted 3 goals in the quarter. With the offense clicking and the defense clamping down, Missoula extended its lead to 8 – 2 heading into the final quarter.
The Vikings started off the 4th quarter with a frenzy of activity, winning the face off and then charging down the field to attack the cage. They fired off 4 shots early in the quarter, but goaltender Brandon Roose (JR, Sentinel) played tough and made 2 saves to start the quarter. Missoula got the ball up to the offense again and continued to show discipline in their attack, working the ball around and running through their sets. The offense would chip in one more goal in the final quarter and the defense kept up the second half shutout to earn the 9 -2 victory.
The Vikings JV team showed a lot of heart and toughness throughout the game, highlighted by their spirited starts in the 1st and 4th quarters. The Missoula team showed great improvements to their discipline to team systems and passion for the game, both of which the coaches were extremely proud of. Offensively, 6 different players registered points and 5 of the team’s goals were assisted, both are season highs. Defensively, the team forced 15 turnovers and won 52 groundballs, which are also both season highs. It was a great overall team effort.
Thank you to the Vikings program for hosting us on a great day for lacrosse and thank you to all the parents and fans who made the trip to Coeur D’Alene. Thank you also to Julie Gosselin for her photos and also to Gordy Pace, who’s photos can be found here. Also a Happy Mother’s Day for all our team mom’s out there, we couldn’t do this without you!
GAME NOTES:
GOALS: Trevor Johnson (3), Matt Gosselin (2), Lance Altmaier, Coty Becker, Hunter Brandt, Jack Lundin
ASSISTS: Jack Lundin (2), Hunter Brandt, Matt Gosselin, Coty Becker
SAVES: Brandon Roose (4), Rian Tuttle (2)
Sandpoint Defeats Men’s Varsity
SANDPOINT, ID – On Sunday, May 2nd, the MEL Men’s Varsity team travelled to Sandpoint, Idaho, for a double header. Wet conditions on the game field led to a pre-game field switch and lining, but after a brief delay the teams were lined up and ready to play. Sandpoint won the initial draw and set up their offense as the boys in black opened in a new-look zone defense. The patient Sandpoint attack was able to generate 10 shots in the initial period, but most were from the outside and they were only able to put 2 into the net. Matt Gosselin (SR, Big Sky) was able to beat his man and bury a goal in the first, and Missoula headed into the break down 2 – 1.
In the 2nd quarter, the Missoula boys really worked hard and things started to click. The defense switched over to an isolation attack and Joel Colbert (SR, Hellgate) forced 3 turnovers in the quarter. Those takeaways led to solid transition and Gosselin dished out 2 assists to Trevor Johnson (JR, Sentinel) and Jack Lundin (SO, Hellgate). Lundin’s goal was his first of the season, but came with a price as he would be injured during the play. Bodies were colliding, the ball was moving well, and both teams looked good in the first half.Gosselin also added a goal in the quarter and Missoula trailed by a single goal heading into the half, down 5- 4.
In the 2nd half the Missoula team really started to hurt from a lack of depth. With only 16 active players making the trip, and a few injuries in the game already, the tone really shifted as Sandpoint started to control the tempo. They out-shot Missoula 21 – 6 in the 2nd half, including a 12 – 2 advantage in the 4th quarter that would easily seal the deal. Sandpoint won the game 14 – 6.
Goaltender Rian Tuttle (SR, Hellgate) played well during the onslaught and finished with 12 saves in the game. Coty Becker (JR, Valley Chirstian), who moved up to attack for the first time in the season, played hard and registered 7 groundballs and a goal in the game. Midfielder Spencer Schultz (FR, Hellgate) had a very solid game between the lines and won a team high 8 groundballs in the contest. Defender Ryan Fowler (SO, Big Sky) also played well on the ground, he finished with a season high 7 groundballs. After a shaky start, face-off specialist Colter Lear really dug in, winning 4 of 6 draws in the second half.
In the 2nd game, the coaches elected for tournament-style 20 minute halves. Both teams invited a few JV players to stick around and play, and the game had a much more laid back feel. The offense was led again by Matt Gosselin and Coty Becker. Becker finished with a goal and also assisted Gosselin on both of his goals. Trevor Johnson, Spencer Schultz, and Colter Lear all had solid efforts in the contest. Schultz led the team again in groundballs with 7 in the game. Brandon Roose (JR, Sentinel) also saw his first action as a goalkeeper during the game, he finished with 2 saves and zero goals allowed. JV players Lee Raunig (SO, Hellgate) and Dave Anderson (FR, Frenchtown) each played hard, with Raunig causing a turnover and Anderson generating 3 shots during the game.
Sandpoint really worked the off ball cutters and took advantage of the tired MEL squad during the scrimmage to earn the 8 – 3 victory, but it was still a fun way to wrap up the day and good for both programs to start planning for the future.
Thanks to everybody who made the trip from Missoula and to Sandpoint for hosting a great day of lacrosse! Thanks to Julie Gosselin for the photos you see here, great work! Also thanks to Gordy Pace for sharing your photos again with us, check them out!
