Catching Fire

PABLO — The 10Sticks Lacrosse Club is really hitting its stride.

Last year, when the newly-formed team from Pablo faced off against Missoula Big Sky, the end result was a 16-1 loss. Last week, the rematch may have ended with a loss, but the game was nail-biter throughout. 10Sticks players fought tooth and nail on their home field, falling in the end by a single goal, 4-3.

Then on Friday, against Flathead-Whitefish, the team captured its third win of the season, bumping its record to 3-3 on the year.

“The captains made sure that 10Sticks came out on fire from the first face-off,” coach Alex Alviar said. “We were greatly outnumbered — 11 kids versus Whitefish’s 27 kids.”

After the first quarter, 10Sticks had a commanding lead, but exhaustion set in and by the fourth quarter, the teams were tied. A second wind for the Pablo team led to a go-ahead goal by Al Plant and the lead, but the Bulldogs stepped up the pace again.

“Whitefish was rallying and gaining momentum when goalie Zach Daniels made a crucial save to stop Whitefish’s drive,” Alviar said.

The save sparked the insurance goal, this time by ace forward Dan LaFranier, and the final score put the good guys on top, 13-11.

Jerome Finley, Zach Schmidt, Tim Johnson, LaFranier and Plant each scored goals in the matchup; LaFranier netting seven and Plant, three.

The big win came on the heels of another epic conquest, a home game against Big Sky on Thursday.

“Thursday’s game against Big Sky was a great game with a heartbreaking ending for us,” Alviar said. “Our team came out in the first quarter psychologically flat footed, but we made some adjustments and the team fired up in the second and played hard all the way to the end.”

10Sticks dominated on offense, taking 26 shots on goal and forcing numerous takeaways and turnovers, while allowing only two shots on goal in the entire second quarter. After digging deep to tie Big Sky 3-3 in the third quarter, the ‘W’ slipped just out of reach for the home team and Big Sky came away with the 4-3 victory.

“Our guys played tough and kept the pressure on them so their defense couldn’t bring the ball down to their offense,” Alviar said. “Outnumbered and exhausted, Big Sky got a drive and a goal with 24 seconds left in the game.”

A crucial cog to the 10Sticks wheel is second-year player, Al Plant. Plant dominates the midfield with his speed and stick skills. When the ball’s in his hands, you can hear the opposing players’ fearful shouts of “Al has it, Al has it!” echoing around the field.

“Al Plant is a linchpin for our team, and not just because he can run forever, play great defense and score, but also because he’s a great soft spoken kid who gives 110 percent in practice, every day, and leads his peers by example,” Alviar said. “Al is the type of kid who finishes first during wind sprints, and then immediately turns around and goes back to run alongside his struggling teammates to help them make it to the finish line — that’s how great of a leader he is — it’s an honor to have him on our team.”

10Sticks goes into its next two games outnumbered and missing top scorer Dan LaFranier.

“Now the real underdog scrap starts,” Alviar said.

This Friday, April 27 at 5 p.m., the 10Sticks club will host the Nadzitsaga Lacrosse Club, a Native American team from the Paiute Tribe in Burns, Ore.

“We have made an informal alliance with them as they are a program similar to us — very small, rural and a reservation team working with both native and non-native kids.”

With young, but proven leadership, a passionate coaching squad and an already hardy cheering section, things are moving at a fast pace and in a positive direction for Alviar and his 10Sticks players.

Last year, the club won an important equipment grant from U.S. Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in the United States. The package included player sticks, protective eyewear, full protective goalie equipment (including gloves, arm guards, shoulder pads and helmets). Just recently, however, U.S. Lacrosse has stepped up again — in a big way.

10Sticks is the first official team to be invited by U.S. Lacrosse to be a “First Stick” team, a brand new program that provides incredible support to programs, like 10Sticks, that are just starting out.

“Essentially, it’s a program designed to not just toss lacrosse equipment at new clubs, but rather to provide longer term support to ensure the longevity and success of lacrosse programs spreading the game in newer areas like Montana,” Alviar said. “They liked the mission and core values of 10Sticks and thought we would be a good “First Sticks” team.”

What does that support look like for the club?

An additional set of 24 sticks, helmets, gloves, shoulder pads and arm pads; U.S. Lacrosse memberships for 10Sticks members, fully paid for during the first year and then just $10 for the next year; training for coaches, stipends and registration fee waivers to attend the U.S. Lacrosse Convention in 2013 and 2014; and consulting for fundraising and non-profit support.

In other words, opportunity is knocking for young players across the Flathead Reservation.

Follow this link to the gallery of images from the game: http://www.instantimagegallery.com/iig/a/795/274329;jsessionid=56A7B36E86F07D31B0F4D2700DF1CC10?state:cat/Catalog=BrO0ABXcgAAAAAgEAByRCb3JkZXIAEG9yaWdpbmFsQ2xpZW50SWRzcgARamF2YS5sYW5nLkludGVnZXIS4qCk94GHOAIAAUkABXZhbHVleHIAEGphdmEubGFuZy5OdW1iZXKGrJUdC5TgiwIAAHhwAAADG3cMAAAJY2F0YWxvZ0lkc3EAfgAAAAADEw%3D%3D