Friday, March 24, 2023

The Eagles JV lacrosse team opened its 2023 season with a 9 – 4 win over the Lowell Red Arrows on Friday night.  Playing at home, the team got stronger as the game went on, and got solid performances from many players.  This year’s team is a combination of players from Grand Rapids Christian, South Christian, West Catholic, and Calvin Christian, all of whom are working to come together as a team.

After the team surrendered the first goal of the game to go down 1 – 0, they started to gel effectively.  Leland Lautenbach scored the team’s first goal this season and tied the game at 1 – 1.  He ended the game with three goals.  Isaac Zull fortified the goal, and by half-time, the game was tied at 3 – 3.   Evan Bolt’s work at face-offs helped the team control the ball as well.

The team came out strong in the third quarter and built the lead up to 8 – 3 with five goals, which included a natural hat trick by Elijah VanderKodde.  The defense, led by Nickson Tanui, who picked up eight ground balls, and Ethan Schaaf, held strong and shut out the Red Arrows in the third. 

In the fourth quarter, the team maintained control of the ball and with a late goal by each team, the game ended 9 – 4. 

In addition to Leland’s  and Elijah’s three goals each, the Eagles got one goal each from Adrian Selfe (in the second) Sam Vander Meyden (in the third) and Adam Vander Hart (in the fourth).  Overall, it was exciting to watch them grow as a unit throughout the game, and we look forward to the rest of the season.