Lacrosse club learning game’s true spirit
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With as many injuries and absences as 10 Sticks has had to deal with lately, one would expect the young lacrosse club to be somewhat less than exuberant about its current situation. That is certainly not the case, despite sitting 3-5 on the season, because lacrosse is much more than a game for these young athletes.
Friday’s matchup with visiting Nadzitsaga, a team from Eastern Oregon’s rural Harney County, proved the true spirit of the game is alive and well, according to 10 Sticks program director and assistant coach Alex Alviar.
Due to several players being injured or absent for other reasons, 10 Sticks could only field eight players of the traditional 10. Harney noticed, and out of respect, sat two extra players on the bench, matching 10 Sticks’ eight players.
“They played a really clean game,” Alviar noted. “That game was so much more important than the final score; (it was about) the relationship between our clubs.”
Before face-off, the two teams’ athletes mingled at centerfield, preparing for the contest with a prayer Harney taught 10 Sticks. Following the game, the two teams dined together, and the Flathead Reservation athletes shared their knowledge of double ball, a native game similar to lacrosse, with the visitors.
After discussing with Harney’s coaches who their most honorable athlete was, 10 Sticks sent him home with a double ball set.
“So to me, that’s the real mission of our program right there,” Alviar said. “It’s not about scores; it’s not about stats; it’s about bringing people together.”
Against Nadzitsaga, 10 Sticks goalie Zach Daniels had 12 saves, while Ambrose Brown went 2 for 8 and Zach Schmidt and Al Plant each scored one.
Earlier on Thursday, Flathead High shut down 10 Sticks 11-5.
In that contest, Xavier Matt was 1-5; Schmidt was 2-4 with an assist; Al Plant was 2-6 with one assist; and Jarod Plant added another assist.
Daniels had six saves, and backup goalie Tim Johnson had another.
Ten Sticks travels to Whitefish Sunday for an 11 a.m. game before hosting Missoula’s Sentinel in the last home game of the year at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at Salish Kootenai College.
