SEQUIM — North Kitsap defeated Port Angeles 18-1 at Agnew Field April 28, redeeming an earlier loss to Klahowya and retaining their hold on third in the Olympic/Narrows Conference of the WHSBLA.

North (6-5-0) hosts Port Angeles (1-8) on May 5 and closes its regular-season against undefeated Gig Harbor on May 10.

North Kitsap 7, 5, 3, 3 = 18
Port Angeles 0, 0, 0, 1 = 1

Derek Jacobson, NK, 6 goals, 4 assists 2 ground balls; Kellson Arthurs, NK, 4 goals, 0 assists, 13 ground balls; Daxton Solis, NK, 3 goals, 1 assist, 8 ground balls; Riley Solis, NK, 3 goals, 0 assists, 3 ground balls; Adam Wright, NK, 1 goal, 3 assists, 5 ground balls; Keenen Kakuda, 1 goal, 0 assists, 4 ground balls; Ian Poffenroth, NK, 4 goalie saves, 2 ground balls; Michael Walton, PA, 1 goal, 0 assists, 7 ground balls; Christian Middlestead, 16 goalie saves.

Klahowya 16, North Kitsap 12
POULSBO — Klahowya defended its leadership of the Narrows/Olympic Conference by defeating North Kitsap 16-12 at Strawberry Field, April 26.

But the Eagles’ win didn’t come easy.

North was up 2-1 at the end of the first. Klahowya edged ahead 7-5 at the half. North stayed with Klahowya point for point in the third, but Klahowya put six more goals on the scoreboard to North’s four to preserve the lead.

The coaches were as active on the sidelines as their players were on the field: “Communicate!” “You gotta help out!” “You gotta go to the ball!” “One more round!” “No rush. Settle the ball!” “Move our feet!”

Both sides played aggressive man-to-man defense. There was no room for error; in this game, every slip counted.

“We accumulated 8 minutes and 30 seconds of penalty time. That killed us,” North Kitsap coach Joseph Bates said. “We played good lacrosse and I’m proud of my players. If we didn’t have so many penalties I believe the outcome would have been different.”

Austin Keller led Klahowya with five goals, one assist and seven ground balls. Klahowya goalie Kyle Bergman had 15 saves before being relieved by Jon Tammen, who stopped one North goal attempt.

Kellson Arthurs led North with five goals and five ground balls. Freshman goalie Ian Poffenroth got a workout, facing 21 shots and stopping five in 48 minutes of play.

All told, seven Klahowya players contributed goals; six North players scored. Klahowya recovered 43 ground balls to North’s 45. Klahowya had nine assists to North’s five.

“As the No. 3 seed out of our league we earn a playoff berth, so long as we finish strong in our last three games,” Bates said.

Klahowya’s hold on the conference title likely depends on how well the Eagles fare against Vashon, which is 1.5 games back.

Klahowya (9-1-0) goes on to meet Auburn Riverside (1-7-0) in a non-league game April 28, followed by Olympia (0-9-0) on April 30, Vashon (7-2-0) on May 4, and South Kitsap (3-5-0) on May 11.

Vashon faces Olympia (0-9-0) on April 28, Klahowya on May 4, South Kitsap (3-5-0) May 7, and Port Angeles (1-7-0) on May 11. A sweep by Vashon and Klahowya finishes tied for first.

Klahowya  1, 6, 3, 6 = 16
North Kitsap  2, 3, 3, 4 = 12

Austin Keller, K, 5 goals, 1 assist, 7 ground balls; Joe Hawley, K, 3 goals, 6 assists, 3 ground balls; Torsten Robinson, K, 3 goals, 0 assists, 11 ground balls; Josh Brandes, K, 2 goals; Roque Blas, K, 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 ground balls; Justin Anderson, K, 1 goal, 0 assists, 4 ground balls; Avery Schuette, K, 1 goal, 0 assist, 1 ground ball; Kyle Bergmann, K, 15 goalie saves, 4 ground balls; Jon Tammen, K, 1 goalie save; Kellson Arthurs, NK, 5 goals, 0 assist, 5 ground balls; Derek Jacobson, NK, 3 goals, 1 assist, 1 ground ball; Adam Wright, NK, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 ground balls; Matthew Dotterweich, NK, 1 goal, 2 assists, 1 ground ball; Riley Solis, NK, 1 goal, 0 assists, 9 ground balls; Robert Miyoshi, NK, 1 goal; Ian Poffenroth, NK, 5 goalie saves.

Notebook
— The Washington State chapter of U.S. Lacrosse named North Kitsap junior Derek Jacobson a state high school lacrosse player of the week for April 11–17.

Jacobson had seven goals, two assists and three ground balls for North Kitsap in its 21-5 win over South Kitsap on April 11; and eight goals, two assists and four ground balls the next day in North’s 23-6 win, again over South Kitsap.

— The North Kitsap lacrosse team is not named — it’s just “North Kitsap,” coach Joseph Bates said.

The team is not affiliated with North Kitsap High School. It’s a club team comprised of players from Kingston High School, North Kitsap, Chief Kitsap Academy, and West Sound Academy.

North is the Narrows/Olympic Conference of the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association. The association consists of 74 teams in 13 conferences.

North Kitsap and Klahowya players face off for possession during the start of play in the Narrows/Olympic Conference lacrosse game April 26 in Poulsbo. Klahowya prevailed 16-12. Photo: Richard Walker / Herald