Team Washington Excels at Champ Camp

Last Week Team Washington headed east to take part in Champ Camp, a 72 team tournament split over 16 divisions. With teams from around the country Team WA came fought hard to take 3rd place at the tournament.

Here is a run down of their performance curtesy of Brandon Fortier

Game 1: Team WA 15, Tri State Green 0
Scoring: Snow 3, Bates 2, Wright 2 Carr 2, Rohrbach 2, Mutzel 2, Murphy, Shields

Game 2: Team WA 13, Palm Beach Florida 4
Scoring: Snow 3, Shields 2, Rohrbach 2, Bates, Wright, Mutzel, Nordstrom, Murphy, Foster

Game 3: Team WA 12, Mass Elite Red 3
Scoring: Bates 2, Snow 2, Shields 2, Director, Nguyen, Beckwith, Yaap, Foster, Rohrbach

Game 4: Team WA 6, Twist Black (PA) 5 (OT)
Scoring: Bates, Shields, Snow, Yaap, Murphy, Wright

Game 4 Recap:
For the first time in the entire tourney Team WA found themselves trailing at halftime 2-1.  After equalizing early in the 2nd half, several unforced turnovers allowed Twist to extend to a 4-2 lead with 15 minutes to play.  Team WA had thought to have pulled one back but was called for a crease violation.  With about 5 minutes to play, Lachlan Murphy squeeked one through.  Team WA won the ensuing face-off and Sam Snow finished on the doorstep to tie the game.  Game remained tied until 1:15 to play when Twist scored the go-ahead goal seconds after killing a penalty.  Team WA responded immediately though and Nick Yaap tied the game with 45 seconds to play.

The game would head to overtime.  Team WA won the first face, but Twist immediately won it back.  After a long possession and several misfires, Twist turned it over and Team WA had their shot.  A clearing pass from Connor Fischesser sent Michael Pancottine streaking towards goal.  Pancottine had the ball stripped just as he was about to shoot.  A scramble ensued, Travis Wright gobbled the groundball and found the back of the net for the winner.

Game 5: Team WA 10, NorCal 5
Scoring: Snow 2, Shields 2, Rohrbach, Nordstrom, Carr, Wright, Foster, Tungsvik

Team WA won Group G with a 5-0 record and entered the Championship Bracket

Round of 16: Team WA 9, Archie's LC (PA) 4
Scoring: Bates 4, Snow 2, Yaap, Nguyen, Shields
 
Quarterfinals: Team WA 8, Tr-State Gold 4
Scoring: Carr 2, Yaap 2, Nguyen, Foster, Tungsvik, Bates
  
Semifinals: NH Tomahawks Purple 7, Team WA 5
Scoring: Shields 2, Snow 2, Murphy

Two goals from Daniel Shields, one on a fastbreak and the other man-up, gave Team WA an early 2-0 lead.  The Tomahawks methodically climbed back taking advantage of Team WA's struggles to clear the ball and took a 4-2 halftime lead.  Sam Snow pulled one back on a feed from Nick Yaap with 12 minutes to play, but the Tomahawks responded almost immediately.  With six minutes to play, Team WA mounted their own comeback.  Sam Snow stuck the low corner from 12 yards out on a beautiful solo effort.  Shortly after, Lachlan Murphy equalized by winning a groundball on the crease and quickly surprising the keeper.

Team WA took an unfortunate penalty with just over a minute left and the Tomahawks capitalized.  They also won the next face-off, forcing Team WA to step out and pressure resulting in the insurance goal to ice it.  Playing in their 4th game of the day, Team WA ran out of juice, but will play Tri-State White for 3rd/4th place at 11:30 Sunday morning, guaranteeing the highest finish ever for a west coast team.

Consolation Game (3rd/4th): Team WA 3, Tri-State Black 2
Scoring: Director, Carr, Bates

Team WA wrapped up 3rd place with a narrow 3-2 victory at the McDonogh School.