Short-handed Wolverines fall to Bainbridge & Wilson

3/22/13
On a sunny Friday afternoon on Bainbridge Island, the Wolverines dropped a 17-4 contest in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

In the first quarter, freshman sisters Lillie and Sophie French helped the Wolverines build an early 2-1 lead. Although the Spartans answered with two consecutive goals to end the first quarter up 3-2, it was clear that the young Wolverines had learned several lessons from their past two defeats and were playing at a much higher level. Lillie French scored again in the second quarter and the Wolverine defense held the Spartans to one goal thanks to a stout performance from junior captain Sierra Anderson.

With the French sisters unable to compete in the second half due to a prior commitment, the short-handed Wolverines ran out of steam. Freshmen Alexis Taber and Lisa Courtney contributed valuable minutes, freshman two-meter defender Maggie Ugelstad scored her first career goal, and junior two-meter Sophie Quynn recorded an impressive four ejections drawn, but the Wolverines were unable to convert any of their six second half man-up opportunities. Meanwhile, the Spartans used a balanced counter-attack and strong two-meter play to outpace the Wolverines 13-1 in the second half. Though the final score of 17-4 was heavily lopsided, the Wolverines’ coaching staff was proud of their team’s first half performance and overall improvement from last week’s games.

3/23/13
Playing in their fourth game in six days, a weary Wolverines traveled south on Saturday afternoon to take on Wilson Rams in non-league action.

For the second straight game, the Wolverines had to compete without freshmen Lillie and Sophie French. Despite the absence of their top two scorers, the Wolverines kept the game close for three out of four quarters. The first quarter was 2-1 in favor of Wilson, with Bellevue’s goal coming from freshman Nina Stash (the first of her career). The second half was 2-1 in favor of Wilson, with Bellevue’s goal coming from senior Claire O’Rourke. But a 0-4 second quarter highlighted by several Wilson counterattack goals doomed the Wolverines and was the main culprit in the 8-2 loss.

Goalie Sierra Anderson led the Wolverines with six steals and six saves. Sophomore Julie Mao chipped in an assist and Quynn added one ejection drawn. Bellevue (1-5) returns to action on Thursday against Ingelmoor.