High School boys' soccer team gets its first win

The La Conner High School boys’ soccer team was on point against Crosspoint Saturday.

The Braves (1-3) earned their first victory of 2023 with a convincing 5-0 home shutout of non-conference foe Crosspoint Academy, a traditional soccer power from Bremerton and a SeaTac 2B entry.

Lane Tenborg paced the winners by scoring twice and assisting on La Conner’s other three goals.

Braves’ head coach Galen McKnight described Tenborg’s play as “brilliant.”

McKnight also praised Corran Eisen, who broke a scoreless tie with the lone first half goal of the match; Sammy Williams, who scored off a corner kick after the break; and Kale Navarette Higgins, who also found the net off a corner kick from Tenborg.

Goalkeeper Tyler Cicotte and La Conner’s defenders likewise received kudos for having combined to blank the Warriors.

“They were very steady, only allowing four shots,” McKnight said.

McKnight likes the progress his club is making after sustaining successive losses to Lopez, Friday Harbor and Mount Vernon to open the season.

All three Braves’ setbacks were tough defensive clashes. Lopez edged La Conner 1-0 in the Braves’ debut Sept. 12. Friday Harbor escaped with a 2-1 verdict in the Sept. 15 home opener. MVC nipped visiting La Conner 2-0 Sept. 18.

The Braves’ strong second half play last Saturday assured that La Conner would land in the win column and not be on the short end of a fourth straight closely fought contest.

Next up for the Braves is a non-league pairing Friday at home opposite Grace Academy.

La Conner hosts MVC in a much-anticipated rematch Oct. 6.