POULSBO — Check the stats.
Of all teams that have played 10 games, midfielder Matt Dotterweich leads the Washington State High School Boys Lacrosse Association in points with 22 — an average of 2.2 per game (A player gets one point for each goal scored and one point for each assist). He’s first in assists, with 10; and second in goals, 12.
That’s of all players from 70 teams in the 12-league WHSBLA.
Senior midfielder Andrew Monlux is third in ground balls, with 48.
Goalie Jack Carrasco is second in minutes played, 412; second in shots, 152; third in saves, 47; and third in save percentage, .309.
Trevor Mays, Adam Wright and Joel Ingram are also on the top 10 lists for goals, points, assists and ground balls.
North Kitsap (3-7) headed to Bainbridge (5-2) for a non-league game on April 30, third in the Olympic Conference but the playoffs outside their grasp.
For a team that can play with such intensity, what went wrong?
“We had a very humbling loss to Port Angeles a few weeks ago where we thought we had the game won before we even played,” Coach Joseph Bates remarked.
“It was a big slap in the face when we lost 16-5. Ever since then, my guys have brought their game to a new level, playing with more defensive intensity. I changed our offensive sets to make us more dynamic with offense and the guys picked it up quickly.
“We are developing our teamwork and spreading the wealth with goals and assists. My guys with big stats are the guys that practice in the off season and strive to get better and it shows.”
North Kitsap was headed into midseason 1-6 when it scored strong back to back victories on the road – 12-7 at South Kitsap on April 21 and 10-1 at home vs. Port Angeles on April 23, led by scoring by Kellson Arthurs and Derek Jacobson and solid goal protection by Carrasco.
Then, on April 25, a setback at Camas, where North Kitsap allowed seven unanswered goals in the first half en route to a 16 – 4 non-league loss.
Camas built on the first-half lead with seven scores in the third, then settled into a two-goal fourth to close-out the game. They allowed just two scores in each of the final two quarters.Arthurs led the North Kitsap offense with two goals and 13 ground balls. Carrasco got a workout at the goal, managing 15 saves.
A 13-9 loss to Vashon at home April 28 followed, removing North Kitsap from playoff contention.
“Everyone needs to work on fundamentals,” Bates remarked. “No matter the individual skill level, if you don’t play fundamentally sound as a team it’s hard to be competitive.
“Another big improvement point that we have been working on and still need to work on is defensive positioning and not overcommitting on defense and giving up the field. If you take away the inside of the field, it makes it much harder for the other team to score.”
Bates is confident his team will be a tougher contender next year.
“We never give up as a team. We always fight the whole game,” he said.
“I’m only losing five guys after this year that will be graduating. I only lost two players last year and gained 18, which allowed us to have a JV season.”
He added, “Next year is going to be a big one for North Kitsap Lacrosse.”
North Kitsap travels to Stadium on May 5 and closes the season at home vs. Ballard in a non-league game on May 11.
