ELLENSBURGH, Wash. – A game-changing rally to end the first half, gave Argo lacrosse a 7-5 lead at the break and spring-boarded UGF to its second win of the season and first conference win, 12-9 over Central Washington University.
With three minutes left in the second quarter, the Argos trailed the Wildcats 5-4. Wanting a better presence on offense, UGF Head Coach
Fred Boekel put a short stick in star defender
Chase Clark's hands and moved him into the attacking third.
The Argo attack instantly responded with Clark scoring an unassisted goal with 2:21 left in the half to tie the game at 5. Just 40 second later, UGF took the lead with the second goal of the game from junior
Josh Smith.
UGF wasn't done, scoring a third goal just over a minute on another unassisted effort from Clark. The final two and a half minutes turned a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 lead and totally turned the momentum of the game.
With Clark again handling a long pole again in the second half, CWU never got closer than 2 goals for the rest of the game.
The performance of freshman
Dante Duran at the faceoff X made it difficult for CWU to mount a comeback. Daran was flat-out dominant, winning 16 of 18 faceoffs and helping UGF go 20-5 in faceoffs for the game.
Offsetting what should have been devastating impact on overall possessions, was UGF's propensity for turning the ball over. The Argos had 27 turnovers in the game to CWU's 11, which kept UGF from pulling away.
Smith had the best game of the season. The junior was a juggernaut for the Argos in 2016, but UGF's improved offensive balance in 2017 has kept him from needing to take over games. This time he did take over, scoring 6 of the team's 12 goals, spreading them out evenly with 3 in the first half and 3 in the second.
Despite Smith's singular effort, UGF's offense was still a strong team effort. Four difference Argos scored, including a season high 3 goals for senior middie Al Williams, and 6 of the team's goals were assisted.
Not only did Duran rule the faceoff X, he also led UGF with 3 assists and 9 ground balls. Clark added an assist, 4 ground balls, and a team leading 3 caused turnovers to his total.
The win is the second of the season for a UGF team that only won four in 2016. It was also the team's first game of Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League play. With a record of 2-2 (1-0) the Argos will play another PNCLL opponent, Gonzaga University next, traveling to Spokane, Washington on March 3 for an 11 am contest.
