Boys lacrosse: Raptors still looking for first win

On a cold and windy Minnesota Friday night April 14, the East Ridge/Park boys lacrosse team fell 7-3 at non-conference Rosemount. Rosemount freshmen Conner and Carter Yepsen got the Irish started in the first half, scoring a goal each. Despite scoring three goals in the first half, including another by junior Matt Weller, Rosemount coach Jake Kuehn said his team had trouble adapting to East Ridge’s zone defense.

“We had never played East Ridge before and didn’t know what to expect,” said Kuehn. “We don’t see zone defenses so I think that kind of tripped us up in the first half.”

Both of East Ridge/Park’s first-half goals came from junior Brexton Turner, with assists from senior David Ferguson and junior Daniel Wettershan, respectively, as the first half ended 3-2. Turner said his teammates helped him score.

“Both attacking players set me up well and I just finished what they gave me,” said Turner.

The second half belonged to Rosemount. The Irish came out focused and ready to attack the East Ridge/Park zone defense and Grant Vanoverbeke was the beneficiary, scoring three goals.

“(Grant) is not the biggest kid in the world, but he knows how to sneak around,” said Kuehn. “He had been working really hard with his select team in the offseason, and with us, to get quick shots off so he can score.”

East Ridge/Park coach Aime Caines said his team provided signs of optimism, yet reverted back to some old habits.

“We got off to a slow start but then we settled in and I thought we had a good first half,” said Caines. “Then the second half came around and we got into some foul trouble – which has haunted us in the past – and Rosemount capitalized on their chances. It was a good effort but a bad outcome.”

East Ridge/Park senior Jacob Matenaer got the lone second-half goal for the Raptors. Kuehn said he was impressed with the East Ridge/Park midfielder.

“Jake Matenaer is a heck of a player,” Kuehn said. “We had to account for him on everything.”

Despite the loss, Caines remains optimistic about his team’s season, knowing his team will have to prove itself every night.

“We’re a new program so we have to earn respect,” said Caines. “No teams are just going to give us respect so we have to go out and earn it and if that means playing with a chip on our shoulder then we are going to do that. But I do think we can compete with anyone in our conference or anyone on our schedule.”

The loss dropped East Ridge/Park to 0-2 overall. East Ridge/Park also fell 7-6 to Suburban East Conference foe Mounds View earlier in the week. The Raptors next play April 18 in a non-conference game against Holy Family Catholic.

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