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| photo courtesy Tracy Case Arnold |
In the Hornets' opening game Friday at 5:30, at Puyallup's Rogers High School, the deeper Gig Harbor Tides knocked off Enumclaw 11-5. The two teams were evenly match for the first half, with the game tied three times in the first 14 minutes, including a 4-4 stalemate at halftime. Enumclaw scored early in the second half, but Gig Harbor tied it at 5-5 on their next possession. At that point the Tides' defense shut down the Hornet offense, and Gig Harbor's counter attack got past Enumclaw's defense, taking a 9-5 lead after three periods, and an 11-5 final score. Senior Captain Bryce VanHoof scored three in the Hornet loss, and freshmen Ethan Horan and Nathan March each scored one. Senior Goalkeeper Austin Kaehn had eight saves and four steals.
Enumclaw came back in the final game of the night to beat Stadium 17-6 to advance to Saturday play at the Regional Tournament and put an end to the Tigers' season. Stadium kept up with the Hornets through the first quarter, holding a 2-2 tie after seven minutes. Enumclaw's defense tightened, and their counter attack roared to life, as the Hornets outscored Stadium 7-0 in the second quarter, and 4-0 in the third. The teams played evenly in the final quarter, with both teams scoring four goals.
Five Hornets scored in the win, led by VanHoof's seven goals. Freshman Kyle Morgan lit up the counter attack, too, scoring six. Horan scored two, and Captain Jack Pugh and Brett Butler scored one apiece. Kaehn had 13 saves in goal, and three assists and a steal.
The Hornets continue play Saturday at 4:00, facing the loser of the 12:30 game between Bainbridge Island and Wilson. A Hornet win would put Enumclaw in the 8:30 game to determine the #3 and #4 seeds from Region I; a loss would end the Hornets' season.
