Bellevue Lacrosse Leaves Texas 2-1 in Three Game Spring Break Tour

Bellevue Boys Lacrosse chalked up wins against Plano West and Highland Park, but lost Saturday to Coppell High School, in a three-game spring break tour of the state last week.

The following are the game summaries:

Coppell 13 - Bellevue 6

COPPELL, Tex. – Sam Leggett’s 10 ground balls were not enough to shut down the powerful offense of two-time defending Texas Division II state champions Coppell as Bellevue fell to the Cowboys 13 – 6, Saturday at Lesley Field in Coppell.

The loss was just the second this season for the defending Washington Division I champions and wrapped up a 2-1 spring break road swing for the Wolverines through the heartland of Texas. Bellevue opened on Wednesday with a 10 – 4 win over Plano West and Friday dropped Highland Park 8 – 7.

Leggett was among five Wolverines to score solo-shots, but none able to convert twice in the game played in unfamiliar confines of an 18,000 seat stadium with 90 degree heat and 30 mph Texas winds.

In the first, Coppell opened scoring with Nate Hruby grabbing a deflected ball and beating Bellevue’s Austin Boyd. Despite struggling to clear into gusting winds, Bellevue defenseman Blake Backer netted his first varsity goal just minutes later to knot the game at one goal apiece before the Cowboys finished the quarter up 4 – 2. Both traded goals in the second with Coppell taking a 7 – 5 advantage into the intermission. In the second half, the Cowboys finally broke loose scoring 3 in the third and another 3 in the fourth to cruise to the win.

Bellevue (7-2-0) next faces Lynnwood (0-6-0), Thursday, April 14 in a 7 p.m. start at Meadowdale High School.

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS: Coppell (Tex.) 13, Bellevue 6 (Blake Backer, B, 1 goal, 1 ground ball; Eric Haehl, B, 1 goal; Nick Hudson, B, 1 goal; Cole Johnson, B, 1 goal, 1 assist; Sam Leggett, B, 1 goal, 10 ground balls; Blake Samuel, B, 1 goal; Austin Boyd, B, 10 saves)

Highland Park 7 - Bellevue 8

HIGHLAND PARK -- Freshman Nick Hutson scored the go-ahead goal with 7:25 remaining in the second to give defending state champion Bellevue past defending Texas state champion Highland Park, 8 – 7 in boys high school lacrosse action, Friday in Highland Park, Texas. The win over Highland Park, winner of five of the last state titles in Texas, was the seventh of the season for the Wolverines.

Hutson’s goal, his only of the night, came on an alley dodge from the right side to beat the Highland Park goaltender on the off hip. Bellevue plagued by 9 penalties, played down a man most of the fourth quarter. Highland Park had three attempts in the final minutes of the game with Campbell Sode scoring on the first, a solo shot with 1:04 remaining, but the Texas powerhouse was unable to beat goaltender Austin Boyd as the Wolverine stopper defended an off hip shot and another corner shot with 10 seconds remaining to seal the win. 

“This is a big win for our team – our program,” said Bellevue head coach John Baumann. “Our kids were pumped to play such a powerhouse in Texas. The win gives us huge confidence going into the second half of the season.”

In a chippy defensive battle, both teams grabbed over 20 ground balls, but is was Bellevue’s young players that came through. Along with Hutson, freshman Hank Bethke delivered 3 goals and 4 ground balls to fuel the Wolverines. 

Cole Johnson had 2 goals and Blake Samuel and Dakota Jones each had a solo shot for the Wolverines. Campbell Sode had 4 goals to lead the Scots.

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS: Bellevue 8, Highland Park (Tex.) 7 (Hank Bethke, B, 3 goals, 4 ground balls; Cole Johnson, B, 2 goals; Blake Samuel, B, 1 goal; Dakota Jones, B, 1 goal; Nick Hutson, B, 1 goal; Austin Boyd, B, 11 saves; Campbell Sode, HP, 4 goals, 1 assist; Wills Manley, HP, 1 goal; Sam Delagi, HP, 1 goal)

-- Information from US Lacrosse, Washington Chapter

Share your photos and your memorable moments. You can share by clicking next to the green plus in the  box above.