These are the results from yesterday’s games (3/28/2009).

In its second homestand of the season, the Wolpack hosted Bainbridge Blue for both the 7/8 and the 5/6 games...

The 7/8 Purple jumped out to an early lead, and quite simply, never looked back. Led by middie Elliot Allen, the ‘Pack put on quite an exhibition as they executed their offense seemingly at will. With Jack Mac scoring 4, and Alex Raubvogul playing relentless through the middle, the Pack was easily in control of this one from early on. Sage Vogt contributed a circus highlight play, performing some stick magic that resulted in a brilliant assist. The final was 10-3, giving keeper Danny Strick and his team a 4-0 season record so far.

Our 5/6 squad, led by tough offensive play by Sam Brickman (5 goals) and solid all around play by Quincy Milton fought 5/6 Bainbridge right to the brink, forcing the first overtime game of the season with a fantastic late 4th quarter goal to tie things up 8-8. Our guys were in control most of this game, posting a huge advantage in ground balls. Solid defensive play throughout this contest seemed to pay off as the ‘Pack proved that they can indeed play this game tough. In what was a heartbreaking conclusion, Bainbridge scored first in the sudden death OT period, winning the game by a final tally of 9-8. Coach Milton was buoyed by his squad’s resiliency, and looks forward to the remainder of the season as his guys increase their skill and self confidence. Good work, men!


The 3/4’s looked equally as impressive. In a season first “double header” our guys shook off the nasty weather and sloppy field conditions and played Lake Forest Park-Shoreline tough. With the second game a “make up’ for one cancelled the first week, both of yesterday’s contests once again illustrated just how fast these guys are picking things up. They all played hard and fast the first game, and then, started up again and continued to play just as hard right through the second game. The defense looked sharp as well, regularly cutting off past break opportunities, and were able to overcome some big mud pockets to come up with the ball. There was a balanced attack that saw several players getting their first career goals. While we don’t actually score these games, the general consensus among those of us on the sidelines that the ‘Pack would have come out on top in these.


Thanks go out to all parents who were there to help and cheer on their players. The boys play their hearts out and it’s quite apparent just how much they seem to appreciate and enjoy the game. A special thanks goes out to Bryan Schulz and John Scherwin for bringing a few extra canopies for our use. It made a perfectly miserable day waaay more enjoyable to be able to find a bit of shelter from the storm...especially for those of us who were there all day...! (my own feet are finally thawing out...)

Greetings, Wolfpack Nation. This is the update for the games of week 4 to be played on Saturday 3/28/2009.

The 7/8 White game has been cancelled. This is due primarily to the large number of players who have Spring break and/or high school placement exams. At this time, it is unclear whether or not there will be an attempt to reschedule this game at a later date.

The 7/8 Purple will host 7/8 Bainbridge Blue in a 10 am contest at Cleveland HS, our home-away-from-home.

The 5/6 Wolfpack will host the 5/6 Bainbridge Blue team at 11:30 am, also at Cleveland.

And finally, the 3/4 squad will be hosting a “double header” against 3/4 Lake Forest Park-Shoreline, with the first game starting a 1 pm, and the second game afterward, probably about 2 pm. Both games will be at Cleveland. The second game will be a “makeup” game left over from the season’s first week’s cancellation. Please check for notification from Coach Baldwin regarding any last minute changes here.


By now, you should all know that the 2009 edition of Wolfpack Gear is ready for pick up. If you have not yet received your merchandise, look for John Scherwin at Thursday’s practice at The Swamp to get your stuff. Thanks go out to Dinah Scherwin for organizing and spearheading the effort for us this year.

Dinah informs us that there is a small, limited supply of non-personalized items available for sale. There are 6 youth large and one youth small hoodie, in a slightly lighter shade of gray, as well as one youth large purple jacket. The hoodies are priced at $10 and the jacket is $35. I also have heard that for fans of Hogan’s Heroes, there are also a few Sgt. “Schultz” hoodies available as well....

Finally, be sure to check out the Photo Gallery that’s been updated with some shots from last weekend’s homestand that featured all four Wolfpack teams.

Week three’s games, played Saturday 3/21 were unlike any other Wolfpack game played this season---it did not rain, snow or sleet. Most games were played in the sun, very fitting for the first games of Spring.

All of our games were played at home at Cleveland, a first and only occurrence this season.

Saturday started off with the much anticipated intra-squad contest between our two senior teams, 7/8 White vs 7/8 Purple. At times fast and furious, both squads shook off early game jitters, and then proceeded to put on a great display of Lax skills. White scored first but were quickly answered with a furious breakaway. The scored seesawed back and forth, with no team being more than 4 scores ahead at any one time. White’s varied middy and attack lines were a strong challenge to Purple’s consistent defense, who ultimately prevailed in a final 8-6 decision. Special thanks to Purple goalie Danny Strick for pulling double duty.

Our 5/6 squad hosted the Magnolia Propeller in a game starting at 11 am. Coach Milton’s team continues to show improvement with each passing week, and were in this game all the way through. Showing a lot of heart, as well as a few fast breaks, the Wolfpack played even with the Propellers, ending the first half down by one. Spurrred on by the play of Quincy Milton (III), the ‘Pack refused to cave in to the bigger, stronger Magnolia team. Although they lost by a final tally of 8-5, this team demonstrated that they can indeed score and run with the big boys. It looks like it’s still the small things that need some work, but it’s only a matter of time before they’ll start playing on all cylinders. Kudos to Gio for standing tall in the cage, and keeping your head in the game.

The 3/4’s contest with Northshore 3/4 rounded out the day’s games. I’ve got to tell you, if you have never seen Lax played by these kids, you should stick around and watch when the next opportunity arises. While sometimes lacking in skill and technique, there is no match for their enthusiasm and energy! There was no lack of effort by either side, along with some instances of fine lacrosse play as well. It is very fulfilling to us as parents, and to their coaches as well I’m sure, to see these guys pick up the game’s basics so readily. In only their second game, the basics of offense can be seen in their play. Defense needs a bit of work, although we had great success in shutting down more that a few Northshore fast breaks.
If we had been keeping score, it would have been 4-3 Northshore, but we weren’t....

We here at Wolfpack Central would like to offer a word or two of thanks to all who volunteered to help with yesterday’s homestand. From the parents who helped set up “camp” to the score keeper trainers who graciously passed on their skills, and to the many, many Wolfpack parents and supporters who turned out in droves to cheer on the players, goes our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. From what I saw cruising the sidelines during all three matches, everyone was enjoying themselves, along with relishing the sunshine. I especially liked the way our supporters and the fans from the other clubs interacted. Questions were asked, answers were given, and a definite sense of community developed.

As we move forward in the season, I look forward to experiencing this sense of satisfaction again and again. Thanks for all you do, not only from us here at Wolfpack Central, but from all our players and their coaches as well.


On Another Note:

It needs to be pointed out that a few players showed up to play missing key pieces of equipment. Without gloves, helmet, pads or a mouthpiece your player cannot be allowed on the field. We had several instances Saturday where our teams were assessed a one minute technical foul for failing to wear a mouthguard. It is unfair to your coaches and team mates who have better things to do, to have to try and find “loaner” equipment. Please come prepared to play, or sit out the game if needs be...

For games to be held this Saturday, March 21, 2009:

Pretty easy and straightforward this weekend as ALL Wolfpack games are at our home-away-from-home, Cleveland HS field.

The two 7/8 teams will have an intramural scrimmage starting at 10 am.

Our 5/6 squad will host Magnolia 5/6 in an 11:30 am contest.

The Central 3/4’s will round out the day’s activities with a 1 pm contest against the Northshore West 3/4 squad.


All player’s are reminded to arrive before your game with enough time to warm up and get ready to play. Your coaches may have specialized requests, most want their players on the field 1 hour before game time. Please remember to bring, and wear, your mouthguard.


This weekend presents an excellent opportunity for our younger kids to come out and watch the older guys run through the paces. In addition, there will be opportunities for any interested parent to learn the basics of scorekeeping/ time keeping and spotting. For those of you who do not know, a spotter simply watches the action and communicates with the official scorer, the specifics of which player did what, acting as an extra pair of eyes for the scorer.


Learning the rules is not difficult, we have several good resources on our LaxLinx page. We have a rather large resource in our Parent’s Guide To Lacrosse available. In addition, 3/4 coach Joe Baldwin has found a pretty good condensed version here for your use.


As an added benefit, most officials are more than glad to explain rulings at quarter and halftime breaks.


We are approaching the time of the season where Spring and Easter breaks will be starting and may possibly have an effect on player availability for games. You are reminded to check your team’s schedule, and to contact your team’s coach to let them know what games you may have a conflict with. The earlier they get this information, the better the chance we’ll be able to change or reschedule games.


Let’s all hope for some better weather this weekend. I hear that the rain will be warmer...

Week #2’s games are in the books and once again, we’d like to let everyone know what happened in Wolfpack Nation last Saturday (3/14). Over all, the weather was a bit better than last week (no snow), but for most games it was still wet and cold. Hang in there, we’ll soon be in the 70’s with sun...


Central’s 7/8 Purple squad traveled to Lakeside MS for a contest on their New Turf Field. After a shakey start, which saw the ‘Pack go down 4-2 early on, our guys hung in there and managed to get one back before the half. The third quarter saw 4 unanswered goals for the Purple, putting them up 7-4. The final tally was Central 8, Lakeside 6, in a contest that saw balanced scoring from 5 different players, along with an outstanding defensive effort.

Our 5/6’s played Sandpoint at Magnuson Park’s Sports Meadows. In a game characterized by two distinctly different halves, the ‘Pack played hard the 1st half, holding their powerful opponents to only 2 goals, with those two goals coming on the first two positions of the game. Our guys’ relative inexperience came to light in the second half. Despite coming up with a good number of ground balls, combined with a much better passing offense, the ‘Pack seemed to lose momentum and ultimately went down by a score of 7-1. Thanks go out to Gio for taking on cage duties for all 4 quarters. Your efforts are much appreciated!

Central’s massive 3/4 team had their season’s first game, a contest against Magnolia-Queen Anne at The ‘Bowl. In a game that started 45 minutes late, commendations go out to all coaches who managed to keep our guys warmed up and engaged for what turned out to be a marathon event. The game was fast and furious, with much of the action happening right in front of the crease! (Those ground balls can be hard to clear at times, what with all that raking going on!) Both teams had a number of fast break opportunities, with well executed passing, some serious juking, and hard defensive play by both sides. Players were well organized, and were switched-in regularly so playing time was evenly distributed. At this level of play, games serve primarily as an instructional event, with no scores being recorded. If we had kept score, the ‘Pack would have went down 3-1, but then again, we didn’t.

We’d once again like to gently remind everyone (parents and spectators) that proper LAX “etiquette” dictates that the bench sidelines are reserved for players, coaches, officials and scorers. Unlike soccer, all spectators are to be on the side opposite to that of the players. This allows coaches to keep distractions to a minimum, and to keep their players “in the game.” Coaching is challenging enough without them having to make themselves heard over the “assistant-coaching” that comes from well-meaning parental units. At certain game locations, failure to follow this protocol can be considered a faux pas, and will not endear our squad to the officials or the opposing bench. Your cooperation is appreciated...

Week 2 of the ’09 Wolfpack season sees all four squads in action. These games are all on Saturday, March 14, 2009.


Our 7/8 White team will host a 10 am contest at Cleveland HS against Northshore 7/8. Please plan on being at the field, game ready, 45 minutes before start. You guys are responsible for lining the field and keeping the book. Contact Ryan for further information.


The 7/8 Purple travel north to face Lakeside for an 11 am start. Please be at the field, game ready, 45 minutes before your faceoff.


Our 5/6 squad meets 5/6 Sandpoint at noon at Magnuson Park. We have received this from the home team regarding the game’s location:

“...The Magnuson Sports Meadow fields are off of Sand Point Way. Best to park by the playground in the big parking lot and then you have to walk in to the field as there is a lot of construction near the fields. We have field 1 which is the southern most field at the sports meadow...”

Your coach has requested that players be at the field 1 hour prior to game time.


And finally, our 3/4’s kick off their season with a game against Queen Anne at Queen Anne Bowl in a contest that gets under way at noon. Players are requested to be onsite 45 minutes before game time.


As always, please let your coaches know if you will not be at the game, or if you will be late. This saves some guesswork, and allows coaches the time needed to prepare their lineups and plan game strategies. Also--- this is important this year---you need to wear a mouthguard. Failure to wear one could result in a technical foul, along with a 1 minute penalty.

We here at Wolfpack Central will always try to provide timely, accurate information as best we can, but in the event of any discrepancy, please contact your individual coach for clarification.

This is a reminder to all who ordered Wolfpack swag this year that your payment is due today. Thanks to Dinah Scherwin for stepping up and taking on this responsibility. Unfortunately, if you have not ordered your stuff this go round, the window has closed for this season.

Good luck to all, play hard, have fun!

With the advent of Daylight Saving Time (you DID remember, didn’t you?), we have been informed of several changes to practice times designed to better mesh with individual coach’s day gigs and the additional hour of daylight now available.

Starting this Tuesday, March 10th, The 7/8 Purple team, coached by Peter V. will shift their practice time 1/2- hour later. Their session will now be from 5-6:30 pm. The 7/8 White squad’s (Peter S, coach) schedule will remain unchanged, staying at 4:30-6 pm.

Also this Tuesday will see the first of several 3/4 practice sessions to take place at an alternate field (McGilvra, near Madison Park). Coach Joe has obtained use of this small turf field for his team’s use to get them some experience playing on a fast turf field, and to give parents a break, since now they will be able to recognize their kids post-session. Practice times will remain unchanged, however (4:30-6 pm). We are told that this change will happen only a few times during the season as availability is limited.

Coach Milton’s 5/6 squad will extend their practice time 1/2-hour, going from 4:30-6:30 pm at The Swamp.

Kindly address all questions and comments directly to the coaches of each team.

After a cold, wet, and snowy Saturday, the Wolfpack’s first games are now history. It was a wild weekend, both weatherwise and Lax-wise...

The 7/8 White team faced off against North Seattle at Cleveland HS. It was apparent that there was some early season “rust” that allowed their opponent to jump to an early lead. Halftime found the home team scoreless. Rather than folding, our guys showed a great deal of resilience and fought their way back, with all the pieces finally falling into place in the fourth period. The second half saw our team outscore their opponents two-to-one, but unfortunately, it was just too late in the game to overcome North Seattle’s early lead. The final score was 8-4.

Our 5/6 squad had their first game against Lake Forest Park-Shoreline in North City. The boys were in the game right up until halftime, with solid play by both defensive and offensive units, but unfortunately, after the break, the wheels seemed to fall off the train. A combination of a fired up opponent and some defensive lapses led to our guys’ ultimate defeat. Everyone played hard however and showed a lot of heart, trying their best right up to the final horn. Their effort was appreciated by all...

The 3/4 squad had the weekend off due to a scheduling conflict. Their schedule for the remainder of the season however, has been fleshed out, and can be found here.

The 7/8 Purple finished off the ‘Pack’s opening day with a wild night time contest at snowy Two Ponds Field in Shoreline against Lake Forest Park. In a game punctuated by lightening, both on and off the field... (Kinda make you think that running around on a big field, holding long, aluminum rods may not be the brightest of ideas...)...the Purple came out strong and were able to jump to an early, comfortable lead. An officiating “controversy” in the third quarter apparently fired up their opponents who came back from four goals down to come within one. A late 4th quarter surge by our guys ensured the win for Purple goalie Danny Strick. The final tally was 8-6. The fans on the sidelines were happy that the game did not go into overtime, most of them having already lost feeling in their extremities some time earlier.


As a reminder to all players, if it appears that you will not be able to make your game for any reason, please let your coaches know as soon as possible. They need to know what players will be available to them so they can plan game strategy and set up their offensive and defensive lines. If you cannot contact a coach, then reach out to the team-parent that has agreed to hep with team administration.

Also, please remember to arrive at least 45 minutes (or whatever your coach requests) prior to game time fully suited up and ready to play. It’s not fair to your teammates and coaches who have seen fit to arrive at the proper time. If players are not warmed up sufficiently, especially true this cold Spring, they run the risk of injury and put their teammates at a disadvantage. Lax requires that all players deliver peak performance when requested. Remember that your team’s success depends on everyone working together.


Finally, Dinah Sherwin wants us to remind everyone that Tuesday, March 10th is the last day to turn in your order for this year’s Wolfpack Gear. John Sherwin will be at Tuesday’s practice to collect any additional orders. Orders will go out for production Wednesday morning, and it simply will not be possible to add or modify orders after that time. Thanks to all who have already placed their orders.

OK, Wolfpack Nation, this Saturday, March 7th officially kicks off the 2009 Season of Wolfpack Lacrosse! Thanks to all coaches (and players) who have braved the hazards of The Swamp for the past few weeks to get ready for this weekend’s faceoffs. Thanks also to all parents who have supported the program, both with their time and commitment. (And for getting that all that danged paperwork completed!)

First off, we are sad to announce that the 3/4’s game this weekend has been cancelled due to unspecified reasons. Plans are to try and combine this game with the one on March 28th, where we’d take part in a double-header of sorts. On the upside, our guys will have another couple of practices to prepare. Contact your coach with any questions.

Our 5/6 squad will open their Wolfpack season with a game against Lake Forest Park-Shoreline at 11am at North City Elementary.

The 7/8 White will host their season opener at our home-away-from-home, Cleveland High School. This field is a stone’s throw south of The Swamp, and is located behind the school building. They will be facing North Seattle starting at 10:00 am.

The 7/8 Purple squad has the late game, facing off against Lake Forest Park-Shoreline at Twin Ponds Park in a game under the lights starting at 7 pm.

As always, be prepared for any weather, bring a water bottle, and be sure to bring a mouthguard! It is a requirement this year, with players without one being subject to ejection, and a team technical penalty assessed.

Players should be at the field ready to warm up (gear on, game ready) 40 minutes before the scheduled start. Your individual coaches are free to, and most probably will, issue their own game day instructions and schedule.

Coaches will most likely have some direct communication with parents regarding volunteer opportunities. As a home team, we are required to keep the official scorebook and supply a timekeeper. Usually the home team will also supply a spotter or two to assist with scorekeeping. A visiting team, while not strictly required to keep score, will usually provide a scorekeeper anyway to help the coaching staff with performance stats as the season progresses. The League will furnish a scorer’s table, the “Book”, and a time clock or stopwatches, along with goals and field marking supplies. At the end of the home stand, these things will need to be collected and kept until the next set of home games.

It should also be noted for new families, that as a matter of etiquette, the sidelines are reserved for the players, coaches, scorekeepers and officials. All spectators should be on the opposite side of the field. This gives coaches the freedom they need to do their jobs (i.e. yell at our kids) and keeps player distractions to a minimum.

We have a lot of parents on all of our teams who have done these jobs in the past, so every team should be able to jump right in. New parents are strongly encouraged to step up and assist. If you are new to lacrosse, it is a great way to learn the game. Teams are encouraged to have several sets of parent volunteers, so the responsibility does not fall to only a few people.

As the season gets underway, there will be training clinics for both scorers and timekeepers. For those of you in much better shape than me, there are also Official’s training clinics as well. Contact Ryan Kelly for information on these.

Because of the cancellation of last Thursday’s practice, the deadline for ordering your 2009 Wolfpack Gear has been extended to Tuesday, March 10...an extra week.

This year, thanks to the efforts of Dinah Scherwin, we are offering the classic gray hooded sweatshirt and the stylish Purple lined warm up jacket, both emblazoned with the Wolfpack’s logo . The hoodie is only $20 and the jacket goes for $35... an excellent value! The sweatshirt can also be personalized if you desire. Both are available in an assortment of youth and adult sizes. Please get the Order Form here, complete it and get it back to Dinah along with your payment, before the March 10th deadline.

To make things a bit easier, you can send payment along with the order form with your son to practice where a volunteer parent will collect the orders and make sure they get to Dinah.

In Other News:

Games will commence for all teams this Saturday, March 7th. You can check out the game schedules for all Wolfpack games on our Calendar.
At times, schedules may change due to unforeseen circumstances, so it’s always a good idea to check out this website for current information. We will post the upcoming games, along with their locations, by the Thursday before game day throughout the season.

Individual team schedules can be found in the column at the right.

For you new families, keep in mind that LAX is an all-weather sport. Be sure players dress in layers and have some sort of rain protection for when they are on the sidelines. The same goes for us spectators as well. An excellent solution would be Wolfpack gear! (see above)

It should also be noted that all home teams are required to supply a scorekeeper and a time keeper for their games. Coaches are encouraged to get their team parents engaged, with any questions directed to Ryan Kelly. Visiting teams may keep score if their coach desires. This is generally a good idea, to help coaches with team stats, etc. The younger 3/4’s do not keep score, (but usually we parents do) as their aim this year is to develop skills and to get a feel for the game.