Brandon Fortier, former standout player for Eastside lacrosse club and Whittier College and current HS coach, writes the popular Weekly HS Beat for Boys HS lacrosse during the season.

Season Underway

Week 1: March 17- March 22

SCOREBOARD 

 PICTURE of the WEEK 

 3/15 Derek Mills races upfield as Roughriders took on Southeridge (OR) in the Snohomish Jamboree If you have any pictures you would like to contribute, please send to [email protected]

NOTES & REVIEW

Division I

� Bainbridge began defense of their title by rudely welcoming the Panthers to Division I with an 18-4 thumping. The Spartans had just returned from a tournament in Northern California in which they went 5-1. It�s early, but Bainbridge looks to be just too far ahead of the rest in Division I.   

� Despite a 0-2 start, the Panthers have showed promise in moving up a division. They pushed Mercer Island to a one-goal game. Freshman Andrew Paretti has been impressive notching 6 goals against the supposed top two teams in Division I.

� Mercer Island shot out of the gates with 4 straight wins to start the season. They defeated Garfield 7-2 and Riverside Secondary (B.C.) in two preseason games before two league wins. Senior attackman, Luke Larson, has once again started off hot. He recorded 3 goals against Maple Valley and 5 against Panthers. Their 2-0 record has   them atop Division I early on.

� Nathan Hale is already half way to their 2002 win total with a big game one win over Port Angeles. Games with Lakeside, Bellevue and Maple Valley will go further to proving if the Raiders can indeed contend this year.

� Bellevue showed Lakeside the Wolverines are intent on staying above the Lions in 2003, just like 2002. They pulled off a hard fought 7-6 victory in their first game of the season.

Division II

� Eastside had an impressive week one and showed they are in fact an early season favorite. The Ravens scored 28 goals in 2 games while allowing only 2. Junior netminder Erik Yaap pitched a shutout in a 15-0 initiation of Mukilteo to the league.  Scary thing for the rest of Division II- 2002 leading scorer Jack Andrews isn�t even their leading scorer after the first two games.   

� Congratulations to the Klahowya Eagles: Win #1 in their first ever game!   

� Vashon has already equaled its win total from a year ago with a 6-4 win over Kitsap. The win included a 4-goal performance from Alex Craighead.

� The Garfield Bulldogs are on top of the Metro Conference at 2-0. After impressing in a preseason loss to Division I power Mercer Island, Garfield pounded Mt. Rainier 15-1 and then beat inner-city rival Franklin 6-3. A very young squad, the Bulldogs are much improved and very dangerous�league beware.    

NOTE: For statistical purposes, Division II standings have all teams listed together through sportability.com. Realize that Division II is in fact split into 3 conferences and playoffs will be determined based on standings within these conferences. Beginning next week, we will provide these conference standing here under the Division II, NOTES & REVIEW. Checkout LaxPower Power Ratings for Washington State High School Boy�s Division I and II.  

Cascade League

Little action in the Cascade League with only two games. However, Port Angeles B showed they might have more punch than expected. They opened with an impressive  10-3 victory over Panthers B and were lead by the 5 goal performance of Ryan Gray.   

TOP PERFORMERS

� Brad Gillis-Junior, Midfield, Mercer Island After a relatively slow start (1g, 1a vs Garfield, 1 g vs Panthers), Gillis exploded with a double hat-trick performance against Maple Valley. The 7-point day also included an assist and lead Mercer to a 12-5 victory.

� Ian Lee-Junior, Attack, Eastside Ian Lee totaled 6 goals and 6 assists in all of 2002. After two games this season, Lee already has notched 9 goals and 2 assists! He started the season with a 5-goal effort against Issaquah and followed it up with a 4g, 2a effort against Mukilteo.

� Drew Snider-Freshman, Midfield, Garfield A member of the stellar Queen Anne middle school program, Snider has finally reached the high school ranks. Diminutive in stature, his first two Division II high school games were nothing short of stellar. Only a freshman, Snider has helped Garfield out to a 2-0 start with 4g, 1a against Mt. Rainier and 3g against Franklin. Two games, two hat-tricks, two wins!

� Justin Baltz- Midfield, Klahowya A holdover from last year�s Kitsap squad, Baltz lead his new team to its first ever victory with a 3 goal performance in a 14-2 win over North Kitsap.   

GAMES TO WATCH (March 24-March 29)

� 3/25 Lakeside @ Garfield Exhibition Game, but showdown between two storied Seattle schools.

� 3/26 Maple Valley @ Panthers Can Panthers get 1^st Division I win or will Vandals show they can still contend?

� 3/27 Bainbridge D2 @ Garfield Can Garfield challenge for Metro title? Spartans struggled in opener with Franklin.

� 3/28 Eastside @ Curtis Early Division II favorite versus 2002 Division III champs.

Complete HS Results:

CORRECTIONS

� Last week�s Division II Preview included two bits of errant info.

� Jonah Gray is a member of Port Angeles� Division I squad. Ryan Gray is a Key Returner for Port Angeles B in the Cascade League.

� Matt Buffaloe is the Head Coach for Overlake. He will be assisted by Henry Valentine and Walter Valenzuela.