Trailing by one goal with just seconds remaining, the Washington Huskies had possession and got a good shot on goal, but Idaho goalie Blake Uphus made a game-winning save before clearing the ball as time expired to give the Vandal club lacrosse team a 14-13 victory over the Huskies and a berth in the PNCLL Final Four.
Philip Vukelich | Argonaut Patrick Tunison, Idaho freshman midfielder, avoids a defender during the game against Washington Saturday on the SprinTurf. The Vandals won 14-13 and advance to the Final Four playoff game in Seattle Saturday against Oregon.
The Vandals needed a win to keep their season alive and they did just that.
Idaho coach John Andrysiak said it shows how far the team has come this season.
“This is our first time ever beating U-Dub in the regular season, so this is a huge win for us,” Andrysiak said. “To go back to the Final Four after a tough season and these guys putting in a lot of work, it just feels like it’s all come together and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The Vandals travel to Seattle Saturday to meet Oregon in the semifinals.
“I can’t even describe it,” Uphus said. “We’ve worked so hard this season and it’s just been rough on us, but we’ve finally pulled it together. It’s really rewarding.”
After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Vandals took a three-goal lead in the second but saw that lead evaporate after Washington scored three consecutive goals to end the half and tie the game at 6-6.
Idaho fell behind by two in the third, but regained momentum toward the end of the quarter, ending the third with three unanswered goals to take a two-goal lead into the fourth.
Andrysiak said it was key for his team to regain momentum after a poor end to the first half.
“I think it was huge. We have a lot of young guys on the team and they’re finally starting to put all the pieces together,” Andrysiak said. “When they’re facing tough times on the field, they’re starting to overcome those and that’s big for us moving forward.”
The Huskies cut the deficit to one and regained possession with less than a minute to go. Uphus’ last-second save secured the Idaho win.
Attackman John Kopke said it was a clutch play by the goalkeeper.
“It’s pretty exciting when it comes down to a save like that with a couple of seconds on the clock,” Kopke said. “That’s Blake (Uphus) coming in clutch. He works hard and it shows in situations like that when your back’s against the wall.”
Kopke led the Vandals with five goals on the day, but said his performance was all about his teammates setting him up.
“I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Kopke said. “They put me in that position and I was just fortunate enough to put it away.”
For seniors Kopke, Uphus, Ben Frey and Eric Larsen, it was a good send off in their last home game.
“It feels great,” Uphus said. “We went to the Final Four last year and that was awesome, but being a senior right now and going back to the Final Four for the second time in a row, it’s amazing.”
Kevin Bingaman can be reached at [email protected]