BELLINGHAM, Wash. – UGF's men's lacrosse season came to an end with an 11-2 loss to Western Washington University and so did the Argo's playoff hopes. The loss drops UGF from a potential three-way tie for second place in the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League North division to fourth in the standings.
 
"Everyone played well today. Its not like we didn't play well. We were just overmatched and didn't have a lot of gas in the tank," UGF head coach Fred Boekel said. "Three games in three days. We just kind of ran out of gas. You can't fault the kids. They played unbelievable hard, especially our seniors."
 
As Boekel said, the game was the third in three days for UGF, a particularly difficult grind for a roster of 17 players in a high energy, high contact sport. The Argos won the previous two games of the three game stand to remain in the playoff conversation, setting up the dramatic season ending scenario against WWU, who finished second in the PNCLL North.
 
In what has become a bit of an unfortunate habit for UGF, the team got off to a rather slow start, allowing the Vikings to get out to a 4-0 lead. A goal from junior Al Williams (5), who is a senior by academic standing, broke the seal for UGF to help the team to an even 1-1 second quarter.
 
After a Viking goal to start the second half, junior McKinley Ridenour (2) scored UGF's second goal and soon after junior Josh Smith (28) scored again to bring the Argos within three goals. That score was disallowed, however, because Smith entered the crease after he shot.
 
"If things had gone a little differently, and we get that goal, things are 6-3 in the third, things could have been a little different," Boekel said. "Getting that goal disallowed was kind of a heartbreaker."
 
After that, the game was all WWU but UGF's seniors, playing in their last game, continued to battle till the last moment. Perhaps the most outstanding effort of the day came from an unheralded senior playing a thankless position – defensive midfielder Miguel Flores.
 
"He is our designated clearing middie who is a former cross country kid," Boekel said. "He probably sprinted the length of the field 20 times today and the last time, at the end of the game, he was probably just as fast as the first time down the field. That kid is incredible to watch."
 
Flores, Williams, and middie Joey Moser each played their last game for the Argos. The rest of the squad is set to return for what Boekel hopes came been an even more successful season than the current, which set a new program best for wins, with four.
 
"Being able to win a couple of conference games meant a lot to the kids that are coming back. I think it makes them want to work hard over the summer and hopefully get some good recruits in for next year," Boekel said. "I think it helps them understand just how close we are to being one of the better teams in the league."