Bulldogs dominate at Columbia Crush Jamboree

The Sandpoint Bulldogs boys lacrosse team went 3-0 at their first competitive event of the season at the Columbia Crush Jamboree on Saturday in Richland, Wash.

The Bulldogs swept the jamboree, handily winning all three non-league games. Accurate shooting, selfless play and strong teamwork contributed to their success.

These wins might have come as a bit of a surprise for Sandpoint as well as their opponents as the Bulldogs had yet to practice this season on a field. Instead, they have had to make do with limited practice times in the main exhibit hall at the Bonner County Fairgrounds due to a snowpack that has kept the team off local grass fields and problems with the turf at Memorial Field have prevented them from practicing there as well.

The three condensed, tournament-style games were played on grass under warm sunny skies and the Bulldogs quickly adapted to their surroundings.

“I couldn’t be happier than where we are right now after our first games," coach TR Page said. “We still have a lot of work to do but I love the fact that we are playing as a team, looking for that extra pass and using all 10 players. Today was a great team effort.”

In their first game of the day, Sandpoint took on the jamboree host Richland Bombers. Page said Sandpoint executed their attack well. While the Bulldogs didn’t have a huge number of shots on goal, almost every shot they took hit the back of the net. This high-percentage shooting and accurate passing would stay with them throughout the day, he said.

Sandpoint and Richland exchanged goals in the first half with Sandpoint inching ahead by one when the buzzer rang at the end of the half. The Bulldogs kept the lead throughout the second half and despite a bit of a comeback rally by Richland near the end of the game, Sandpoint held on to win 5-4. Sandpoint players Maks Page, Owen Page and Owen Wimmer each contributed a goal and Blayne Kanning added two more goals to seal the deal.

Sandpoint’s second game against another local team — the Chiawana Riverhawks — was a fast-paced, aggressive game featuring impressive quick passing between the Bulldogs midfielders and their attack men. Long stick midfielder Levi Balison helped to quickly transition the ball to the attack end of the field with his impressive speed. Sandpoint held the lead throughout most of the game and finished with a score of Bulldogs 9, Chiawana 7.

Owen Wimmer came away with a hat trick (3 goals) in this game, Maks Page and Gabe Linck each scored 2 and Owen Page and Blayne Kanning chipped in a goal apiece. Midfielders Owen Wimmer, Forest Ambridge and Joseph Aexel were instrumental in winning many of the starting draws, which allowed Sandpoint to maintain possession of the ball throughout much of this game and every game of the day.

The Bulldogs seemed to just get stronger as the day went on. And, in their third and final game, Sandpoint dominated their opponent, the Kamiakin Braves. Standout defensive play by Sandpoint’s Sawyer Treadaway, Ryan McElroy, Hayden Sisk, Cameron Barrett and goalie Ryan Doko left the Braves with little ability to mount an offensive charge. Sandpoint’s Maks Page, Gabe Linck, Evan Holt and Blayne Kanning each scored a goal for the Bulldogs and Owen Page put two between the pipes. The Bulldogs won, 6-1.

Sandpoint (3-0 non-league) will host Mead High School at War Memorial Field at 6 p.m. Saturday.