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Sports
Unified Girls' Lacrosse Team builds strong framework
J on H elmkamp
co-Sports Editor
With a roster almost
identical to last year's,
two new alumni coaches
and a unified team, things
couldn’t be going any better
for the Girls' Lacrosse Team.
This year, Tess
O'Shaughnessy and Audrey
Sheppard were hired as
two new coaches, and were
accepted by team members
right away.
"We all love them, they're
great. It’s really easy to tell
that they're excited to be
here," Keri Robinson, senior
captain, said.
Prior to 2005, the
Lacrosse Team consisted of
girls from Lake Oswego,
Lakeridge, West Linn and
Wilsonville. As interest
grew in the sport, each
school broke off from this
program and developed
their own teams. Both
O'Shaughnessy and
Sheppard were a part of the
program.
O'Shaughnessy has
played lacrosse for six
years, including three years
with West Linn. Sheppard
played all four years as a
Wilsonville High School
student with West Linn.
They bring a sense of
history to the girls they are
coaching.
"Keeping the same team
together has been huge
for us. We know exactly
how each other plays,
and we know what each
player is capable of," Sarah
Normandin, senior, said.
This year, Alister Bunch,
Varsity Head Coach, has
three main goals for his
team: for everyone to
improve, to be competitive
in the league, and to make
a run in the playoffs. So far,
they're meeting their goals.
"The main thing for
me is to critique the little
things. If I see a problem
I have to address it and
correct it before it turns
into something bigger.
It all comes back to
fundamentals," Bunch said.
These goals aren't just
goals Bunch has, these are
the goals of the entire team.
Everyone on this team
wants to improve, play
well, and have a successful
Jennifer Kimbrow, senior goalie, defends the goal against Oregon City, our league rivals,
on April 11. The Lions lost the battle for the top of the league, 6-5, dropping them to second
place in the Three Rivers League to Oregon City.
Photo by Malia Chong
our transitions and our
defensive communication,"
Robinson said.
To get back into the
swing of things before the
season started, they went
to a pre-season jamboree at
Bainbridge, Wash., where
they won all three games in
which they played.
So far this season, they
are 4-1, outscoring their
opponents 60-17. Their
only loss was to Lake
Oswego on April 3, 5-6.
On March 19, the girls beat
Beaverton with their best
score of the young season,
season.
Combined with their
ever-growing bond off
the field, their sound
fundamentals and their
communication, they
have a solid framework.
"We're really good at
Softball seeks Improvement over last season
Z ak L aster
co-Sports Editor
Wn recent seasons the
^ptball Team has had its
share of struggles. This year
has been no different, losing
four of their first five by
a combined score of 25-2.
It remains to be seen how
this season will unfold but
according to Kassandra
Vernon, senior captain, and
first baseman, the team will
This year's seniors have
had to deal with having
three different coaches.
Three players quit the team.
Through all this, the players
have managed to keep a
positive attitude about the
season.
"I am so excited for this
season and the outcome. I
think that with our coaches
and the players we have
this year, we have a very
Las Vegas during Spring
Break, and while there
they played four exhibition
games. Although they
didn't win a game, it was
a good opportunity for the
team to gel and hopefully
lead to a few more regular
season victories, according
to Vernon.
Upcoming home games
are April 25 against the
Lake Oswego Lakers; April
Golf swings into new season
Staff Reporter
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Susan Schrank, senior, lies down a bunt against the Milwaukie Mustangs on April 13. The Lions went on
to earn a much needed victory, beating Milwaukie 6-1.
Photo by Zak Laster
need to fix one problem if
they want to turn the season
around.
"The biggest problem
we need to fix is hitting! We
need to hit the ball better!"
Vernon said. The team has
been shut out three times
this season.
jjf r e Softball Team has
struggled the last few years.
good chance at playoffs and
I am really excited for that,"
Ashley Bruser, sophomore
and third baseman said.
Part of the reason for
the team's struggles has
been that half the team is
young and inexperienced
and that some don't get
along well. For the first
time, they went down to
18-0. Robinson led the team
with a solid performance,
racking up three goals on
four attempts and three
assists. In the first four
games, Robinson had 11
goals and seven assists.
The Girls' Lacrosse Team
will be playing Oregon
Episcopal School at OES
on Wednesday, Aloha High
School on Friday, Hillsboro
High School on April 30,
and Oregon City at home
on May 2.
"Having fan support
is really important to us,"
Bunch said.
27 against the Clackamas
Cavaliers and April 30
against Lakeridge. In May,
they finish off the regular
season at home on May
7 against Oregon City;
May 11 against Milwaukie
Mustangs and the regular
season finale on May
14 against the Putnam
Kingsman.
a
After a week and a half of
tryouts and coaches evaluat-
mg players on their golfing
potential, both the girls' and
boys' golf teams have been
practicing non-stop for up
coming tournaments, which
occur every Monday for the
Varsity team, and Wednes
day for Junior Varsity.
"We w ere very excited
about the large number of
kids that showed up to tryout
— especially the interest by
girls this year!" Shawn Hoff
man, assistant coach, said.
The teams practice four to
five days a week after school
at Oregon Golf Club on Pete's
Mountain.
"We are very thankful for
the opportunity to practice
and play at such a beautiful
course," Hoffman said. "At
least one day is spent on the
range, practicing putting and
chipping greens. The teams
also get out to play at least
two days a week."
Both the coaches and the
team members said that it is
sometimes difficult to stay
motivated during practice.
"IPs sometimes hard to
sta y fo cu se d , esp ecially
during February when it's
cold and rainy, but the kids
do show up and continue to
work on their game," Hoff
man said.
"Everyone on the team is
improving a lot because of
all the practice. It's starting
to get m ore com petitive,
which is fun," Elie Enderle,
freshman Varsity member,
said.
Boys’ Varsity player, Jor
dan Hongo, junior, added
th at m an y p ra ctice s are
also qualifying rounds for
tournaments, so they (the
team members) want to play
Every Thursday, both teams
play a few holes in order to
qualify to play Varsity the
next week. The top five best
scores during the m atch
make Varsity.
The girls' Varsity team has
started off well, taking home
first place its first match. On
April 16, at Stone Creek, the
girls placed third scoring 413.
On that same day, at Lake
Oswego, the boys' placed
fourth with a score of 337.
Although the boys' team
has not gotten off to the best
start, team m ates say that
they have becom e m uch
better. Both the boys' and
the girls' next Varsity match
is on Monday, April 30 at the
Oregon Golf Club.
m