Sunday February 14, 1999 - 8th Annual L&C Alumni Lacrosse Game
Report by Brent Soo Hoo, L&C Class of 1986, Attack Captain Wy'East Lacrosse

With a mere 1 team practice under their belts, Widmer's Wy'East Lacrosse
(aka "the Alumni Team") started the season with a hard fought 10-7 victory
over Lewis & Clark's Men's Lacrosse Club. L&C looked a bit inexperienced
with a new (hockey) goalie and a crop of young defensemen. The L&C offense
moved the ball well, and Attackman Alex Brown is a threat from anywhere on
the field. The condition of the field at Griswold Stadium was horrible
(worst I can remember in over 10 years). No standing water, but the ground
was very broken up & holey in several places which made scooping ground
balls a folly. Of course, the worst areas of the field were where the
face-offs were situated. It was almost a comedy to watch the face-off
personnel from both teams struggle with the holes and mud/sand. Referees
Mark Flood and Todd Vetter did a good job of keeping the game in control.
There would be no tolerance for talking back to the referees.

The feeling in my stomach was butterflies, as I had felt in the past 7
Alumni Games. To be strapping on the equipment for another year of lacrosse
war makes me feel alive. There is a reason we play this violent sport, it
just gets in your blood. Retirement? Not yet. I guess we all had a little
rust to knock off, as both teams and the referees forgot the coin flip to
decide ends of the field at the start of the game. Once that settled, the
game began.

Scoring started with Wy'East Attackman Casey Cleveland converting on a feed
from behind. L&C fought back. Chip Arnold (L&C Class of '94) took the ball
around the cage for an "iso" score and Wy'East took a 5-3 halftime lead.
Wy'East looked strong in controlling the ball on offense and playing good
defense on Alex Brown and the L&C Attack. The Wy'East face off team did a
standout job, especially considering the conditions of the field for
scooping ground balls. I think that we surprised ourselves, however much of
the team has been playing together in Portland Ale/Mazzi's Summer Lacrosse
and the fall/winter Costco SportsNation indoor lacrosse seasons. At
halftime, I wondered if our legs were going to hold out over the youthful
college endurance. Was it the field that made usually speedy Chris Badon
look like he was running in molasses? Or, were the L&C guys just that much
younger and faster?

Wy'East's All Star Midfielder Lee Rudick played an important part in the
victory. Lee had the crucial scoops and ground balls that generated
offensive chances and shots on goal (4 or5 assists). Lee had fed me so many
times without a payoff that when I finally converted a goal off of his feed,
I thanked him for not losing faith. The Wy'East Attack has always had
success with the hard ride, and this day was no exception. Newly acquired
attackman Stan Barton (L&C Class of '98) stood up the big L&C defenseman
named Morgan. I cleaned Morgan with a body check and took off with the ball
right in front of the L&C goal. A goalie's worst nightmare, and another
score for Soo Hoo (L&C Class of '86). Wy'East Midfield Captain Will Harris
(L&C 1984) played a fine game but body checked the short L&C middie and
suffered a broken collarbone. Out 6-8 weeks. Harris has the star-crossed
luck as of late. Best wishes to both Will and his wife Wendy.

Unfortunately, L&C would not give up. Roaring back to tie the game 7-7 on
some incredible bounces and shots, it looked like Wy'East might fold. A
fastbreak up field by Wy'East's middie Dave Torrance led to a nice feed and
a fine shot into the corner of the L&C net by Casey Cleveland (hat trick).
Lee Rudick drove and put a "ripper" goal in from out in front. Clayton
Stearns broke out with the final tally, also earning him a hat trick. The
defense clamped down and played the L&C offense tough. Any day you can hold
dangerous Alex Brown to 3 goals, we'd consider that a success. A nice game
by Jon Stevens in the net; only beaten by some really tough shots and funny
bounces. This year's game marked the first time in the past 4-5 years that
Wy'East has won this annual grudge match. A fine way to start the season
for all concerned.