Fall sports are in full swing for La Conner High School teams, each of which face key tests ahead. But, for now, they can savor some good mid-October vibes.
Boys’ Soccer
“It was our most complete game,” Braves boys’ head soccer coach Galen McKnight said of La Conner’s 5-0 shutout victory over Grace Academy on Friday. “There weren’t a lot of errors even with the wet conditions.”
The Braves squared their season record at 4-4-1 behind three goals by Kaleb Otis and one score apiece from Marlin Bralens and Jasio Borusinski, each of whom found the net for the first time on the campaign.
Abdiel Jimenez was also an impact player for the Braves with three assists, two of which were passes leading to Otis scores.
“He played very unselfish soccer,” McKnight said of Jimenez.
McKnight likewise praised the play of La Conner goalkeeper Kamien Lopez.
“Kamien was able to complete the shutout after being tested with shots late in the game,” McKnight said.
La Conner is slated this week at Friday Harbor Wednesday and at home with Mount Vernon Christian Friday in a pair of big conference tests.
Volleyball
The Braves’ volleyball team not only defeated Mount Vernon Christian 3-1 in a hard-fought four set match, but also raised more than $2,000 for the Skagit Breast Cancer Center during its annual Dig Pink fundraiser at Landy James Gym last Tuesday.
Nora McCormick and Reese Bird filled the stat sheet for the victors. McCormick finished with 16 kills, 13 Digs, 12 assists and two service aces. Bird contributed 25 Digs, 12 assists, seven kills and an ace.
The final line score was 28-26, 25-21, 18-25, 26-24 in La Conner’s favor. That meant the Braves recorded a narrow 97-96 advantage in overall points scored against their nearby NW2B/1B rival.
La Conner coaches Pam Keller and Kamea Luna received contributions up and down their roster.
Maeve McCormick delivered eight kills, 20 digs and an assist. Madi Larson added 16 blocks, three kills, a dig and an assist.
Libero Addison Keller paced the Braves defense with 24 digs and added a kill. Isabelle Villard posted four digs, two kills and two digs. Rory Bird chipped in three digs, two blocks and an ace.
Mia Delage returned from an off-season knee injury to provide three digs and two aces.
La Conner, which saw its nine-match winning streak snapped at Darrington on Thursday, brought an 11-5-1 mark into this week’s action. The Braves are set for a non-league match at 1A Sultan Monday and a 6:30 p.m. Thursday NW2B/1B date at Coupeville. The Braves resume their league road schedule next Tuesday at Friday Harbor.
Football
Coming off a bye week, the La Conner grid team rolled up 444 yards total offense in an impressive 54-30 road win over the Waterville-Mansfield Shockers.
Yandel Rosales-Rojas led the Braves attack with 153 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversion runs. Defensively, Rosales-Rojas recorded three tackles (one for a loss of yardage) and broke up a Shocker pass attempt.
Coming off a bye week, the La Conner grid team rolled up 444 yards total offense in an impressive 54-30 road win over the Waterville-Mansfield Shockers.
Duron Clark nearly joined Rosales-Rojas in triple-figure yardage, finishing with 99. He scored a touchdown, twice added two-point conversions, defended two passes and accounted for a solo stop.
La Conner quarterback Keaton Bailey had 65 yards, a touchdown and two tackles. Max Page netted 52 yards, scored a TD and recovered a Shocker fumble. Kason Williams checked in with a touchdown, 35 yards of offense and two tackles, one of which went for a loss.
Benny Allen picked up 39 yards, scored twice on two-point conversions and rang up three tackles, one behind the line of scrimmage.
Brent Bobb finished with nine tackles. Austin McClure had four stops (two for losses), Vireo Angel notched a tackle and defended a pass, and Landon Stevens registered a tackle for the winners.
The Braves, 3-2 under first-year head coach Kirk Melton, return home Friday to face Charles Wright Academy. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Girls’ soccer
The La Conner girls’ soccer squad came into this week with a 5-4 record after defeating 1A Sultan 3-1 last Tuesday and dropping an 8-0 decision at home to conference power Mount Vernon Christian last Friday.
Maicy Bowles scored twice, and Faith Jenkins added another goal in La Conner’s win at Sultan. Bowles was unavailable for much of the match with Mount Vernon Christian, though, due to a nagging ankle injury. La Conner head coach Leslie Swanson is hoping Bowles will be at full strength going forward.
The Braves, after hosting Lopez on Tuesday, visit Providence Classical Christian at 3:30 p.m. Thursday and host Friday Harbor next Thursday at 4 p.m.
Bill Reynolds is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
