Mukilteo Notes:
A Tale of 2 halves

Mukilteo traveled out to Maple Valley for a tough exhibition game during spring break. We traveled down light because of guys on vacation and an injury or 2. We started the game with only 6 middies. At the pre-game line up all one could think of David and Goliath. The knights gave up several inches and about 10-15 lbs player to player, sophomores vs. seniors. But we were ready for a battle.

The first half was very low scoring despite the intense two-way action. Both defense refused to yield the first goal, but the Knights struck first with a pretty transition goal from Colin Thompson with an assist from Nate Regan. The knights had a long possession after a great take check from Alex Zwaschka. However, we failed to put up any points despite many great opportunities and several disappointing sounds of rubber on steel. The Vandals answered back with a quick goal in transition and we were tied at 1 apiece. Maple Valley started to find their offensive rhythm but could not find the back of the net due to some heroic saves by net minder Dillon Starkenburg. The 1st quarter ended with a 1-1 tie.

After an unnecessary roughness penalty, scoring in the 2nd was lead off by a beautiful low to high ripper by Riley Wanzer from Kyton Blair. Maple Valley answered a few minutes later tying the score at 2. Kyton Blair found the twine on the next possession off a pass from Nate Regan giving Mukilteo the lead 3-2. The Knights killed off a 4 on 6 Man-down due to more acrobatics from Dillon Starkenburg. Mukilteo failed to capitalize on a 1:30 man advantage. The Vandals scored a goal in transition, evening up the score at 3. Before the half ended, Maple Valley scored after a questionable call when the ball left the restraining box in a flag down situation.

The 3rd quarter began with Maple Valley up 3-4, but eventually the football-like tactics of the Vandals began to wear down the Knights. The Vandals scored a few unanswered goals making it 3-7. Mukilteo finally stopped the skid when Colin Thompson fed John Linari on the crease making it 4-7. On the ensuing face off long stick Joey Gray beat a vandal to the ball through sheer force of will, fed John Linari, who made a beautiful pass to Nate Regan, sticking a 12 yard jump shot, 5-7. But that is where the comeback ended. With 2 first-liners out of the game with injuries, the already depleted Knights ran out of gas. The 3rd came to an end with the Knights trailing 5-9.

Maple Valley went on a run, scoring a lot of goals in transition. The lone bright spot in the 4th happened when Doug Moore stripped the Vandal’s goalie of the ball and netted one for himself. The game came to a merciful end at 6-15.

Thank you to Maple Valley for hosting the game.