Courtesy article

Kennedy Catholic outscored the West Seattle Titans, 19-12, as the Washington state boys lacrosse season got underway on Kennedy's own field behind the campus Monday.

The game under windy, cold and showery conditions started off close with both teams getting of to a good start. The Lancers led off with senior Payton Williams (11:16) and freshman Sean Leaming (8:57) each scoring early.

Their goals were matched by two from Liam Allen (7:32 and 5:22) of the Titans.

Junior Dar Sleeper of the Lancers began to take over by winning face offs and got his first goal with 7:38 left in the first quarter and assisted senior Nate Brummond to finish the first with a 5-4 lead.

The Lancers started the second quarter quick with one goal from freshman Leaming (11:08).

Then Sleeper won back-to-back face offs and quickly scored on both at 10:55 and 10:22.

Defense for both teams was the story for the rest of the second until the Titans added their fifth goal by freshman Jett Centioli with 40 seconds left in the half on a fast break.

Sophomore Alex Bergseth had four saves to keep the Titans close. The halftime score was Lancers 8, Titans 5.

The Lancers came out of the half with energy and scored five unanswered goals. One by freshman Logan McLaughlin (11:15 ) and three by Sleeper (11:11, 10:53 and 9:21 assisted by McLaughlin). Liam Allen added three more for the Titans with one assisted by sophomore Harrison Jolly (7:57, 6:53 and 3:08).

However the Lancers continued to build on their lead with Williams adding his second goal 8:13 and McLaughlin adding his second at 7:15 assisted by Sleeper. They finished the quarter with Sleeper adding two more (4:47 and 3:00) and Leaming adding his third assisted by Williams with 32 seconds left. The end of the third quarter score read 17-9.

Both teams played hard through the fourth quarter. The Titans didn’t give up and tried to get back in the game. Sophomore Harrison Jolly added a unassisted goal at 8:06, Allen his seventh goal at 5:11 and Sophomore Max Bergseth struck with 51 seconds left in the game. The Lancers were able to hold them off with Leaming scoring his fourth and senior James Jolly (Titans' Harrison Jolly’s older brother) scoring his only goal with 2:35 left in the game. The final score read Lancers 19, Titans 12.

For the Lancers' scoring leaders, senior Dar Sleeper had eight goals and two assists. Freshman Sean Leaming scored four goals.

Freshman Logan McLaughlin had goals and one assist. Senior Payton William had two goals and one assist.
Senior Liam Allen led the Titans with seven goals. Logan added two goals.