Kirkland - The skies stayed mostly clear over the Kirkland Lacrosse Center on Friday night when Skyline Spartans paid visit to the Lake Washington Kangaroos (6-5) at the neutral site. Coach Dejon Hush’s Kangs would serve as the home team in the KinCo D1 battle against Coach Sam Hutson and the Spartans. Moving up after winning the Division 2 State Championship, Lake Washington has been competing with a 2:1 ratio of underclassmen to upperclassmen, but still came into the game on a three game win streak to face the veteran-laden Skyline squad, trying to build on winning three of their last five games.

From the first whistle, long-pole face-off man Will Carson and the Spartan offense came out firing. Rapid ball movement added up to an almost immediate goal from senior Sam Taaffe. Blake Carpenter would strike next, followed by the first couple of goals for Nathan Brandt. Carpenter scored on two more shots before the quarter would expire. Thuan Do was the only Kang to break up the first quarter run, which brought the game to a 5-1 Spartan lead at the end of twelve minutes.

Although Beau Heimdahl’s second quarter goal was the only tally added to Do’s on the scored board in the period, the defense, backed by freshman goalie Paul Hedreen, were able to contain Skyline to only two scores. Sophomore Will Carson would hit the back of the net, before Nathan Brandt would find his third goal, his first hat trick of the game. The Kangs kept the streak alive in the third quarter, holding the Spartans to only two more goals, both from the stick Nathan Brandt. Looking to start a rally, senior Devin Brickzin would charge the Skyline defense for a pair of goals to bring some momentum toward the final frame.

Coach Hush lit a fire in his men before the start of the fourth quarter, with a trio of goals, starting with Devin Brickzin’s third, followed by connections from Beau Heimdahl and Cj Shuster. The rally by the Kangs would start to close the gap, but an impressive night from goalie Cam DeWeirdt and the polished defensive group plus timely goals from Blake Carpenter and Nathan Brandt would keep a strong lead, closing the game out with Skyline on top, 11-5.

The Spartans will face what will arguably be their biggest test of the season when they host #1 Bellevue in Sammamish on Wednesday at 8 pm. On Tuesday we will be treated to a rematch of the 2015 Division 2 State Championship, when Lake Washington heads to Juanita High School to take on the Rebels for a 7 pm start. By Mark Donahue