Skyline over Lakeside

A mild afternoon on the Lakeside campus was the scene as I wondered north for my first trip to the beautiful campus of the host Lions. Both teams coming off tough loses last week and looking to rid themselves of that distasteful feeling that is losing.

Key injuries were present for both teams as Skyline was missing their star face-off man Spencer Matches to a concussion and Lakeside was again without Cornell bound midfielder Sten Jernudd to an Achilles injury that has hampered him for much of the start of the season.

Skyline would control the ball for a majority of the first quarter and capitalize on a few possessions towards the start of the game. First it was Ethan Thomas finding the back of the net off of a beautiful Brennan West feed roughly 2 minutes into the start of the game. Both teams would then exchange clearing opportunities and battle for possession at the midfield until Dan Christianson would deposit his first of the afternoon unassisted with about 7 left in the first period.

With about 1:30 remaining on the clock Lakesides Hector Rhodes would score unassisted as he slashed through the Skyline defense unassisted for their first and only goal of the half. The action was not over as Brennan West would score himself as he scooped up the loose ball around the restraining line and fired it past the goalie as time expired for the 1st quarter.

The second period got off to a fast start as they scored three unanswered goals in about 3 minutes time. The first two would come courtesy of assistant coach Scott Wiley’s son Calvin. The third goal of the quarter would come from number 23 Charlie Engel giving Skyline a 6-1 lead. Attackmen Brennan west would score his second of the day later in the period sending the game into halftime 7-1 in favor of the Spartans.

Lakeside appeared to be down but certainly not out of the game judging by the way they decided to start the second half. As the game started to find more of a rhythm and game play became less sloppy, so did the effort of the Lion attackers. Lakesides Sam Ballmer would score back to back goals for the Lions cutting the deficit to a reasonable 7-3 about halfway into the third period. Lakeside would continue to create opportunities off of one on one dodging but failed to connect on assists across the crease and inside on numerous occasions leaving head coach Jeff Pattison speechless with disappointment.

Skyline would then take what seemed like forever but was really the last 5 minutes of the 3rd to control the ball, back up shots and finish with number 19 Jeremy V scoring on a nice left handed shot from up top  leaving the score at 8-3 entering the final period.

Lakeside would again try to cut into the lead at the start of the 4th with goals by Hector Rhodes and #5 Noah Harris respectfully making the score 9-5 before Calvin Wiley would again find the back of the net scoring his second of the period and unofficially fourth of the day creating a comfortable 10-5 lead with about 6 minutes left in the game. Both teams were playing very hard throughout the second half and although he score did not show it, the momentum of the fourth had the feeling of a comeback when Ballmer would find #17 David Jamieson making the score 10-6. Unfortunately that was not in the cards for Lakeside as Skyline would score the final goal ending the game 11-6. Final

       - J. Koesterer