Perfect Run
- Written by Don Mann
Oh, yeah: they also finished undefeated at 18-0.
“Pretty amazing and a dream come true for the guys,” head coach Gavin Molitor said. “To go undefeated is really rare and something these guys will always remember.”
Talk about a turnabout season: Woodinville finished 4-13 last year in its maiden voyage after splitting from Northshore Lacrosse.
“It’s important to note that last year we didn’t have any seniors,” Molitor said. “This year I think we had eight.”
Molitor said defense was the club’s strong suit all year but gave props all around after the title game, starting with Chapman.
“He led us in goals and assists--he’s just so skilled with the ball shooting and passing-- but he really showed me amazing character all year as a young man and a leader. What a great captain.”
The title game, like the entire season, was a total team effort, he added.
“Clemens Mitchell and Jacob Dransfield were outstanding on D,” he said. “To hold that team to seven goals...Wow! Awesome.” And the coach laughed out loud, 48 hours after the final whistle blew.
Molitor praised the play of Trevor Brown, who scooped five big-time ground balls in the middle to set the offense in motion.
Sophomore stud Colter Clinch and freshman standout Daniel McKee were recipients of the effort, scoring two goals apiece.
Clinch, perhaps the team’s most lethal offensive weapon, was returning from a foot stress fracture and played in the last two playoff games.
“Colton bounced back from injury and really produced for us,” Molitor said. “I’m not sure that foot was 100 percent, but he gave us a big lift.”
Defense first, it came back to goalie Dalton Combs, who made 14 saves--some of which were spectacular, Molitor said.
“Dalton made just some gigantic saves,” he said with another laugh. “The kid played his heart out, like... out of his mind. That was probably the biggest difference in the end.”
The junior wasn’t perfect--no lacrosse goalie is-- but his team was.
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