Bonners Ferry Warriors end season on a high note
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| The Bonners Ferry Warriors: Front Row - Coach John Niewieroski, Colin MacDonald, All star players #11 Mitch Carroll, and #12 Shane Hefferman, Marty Russell, Kyle Mullin, Goalie Wesley Kreiner, and Coach Brandon Glaza. Second Row - Krista Waalkins, Joel Fields, Josh Miller, Zach Wilson Loren Abeyta, Alex Caponi, and Clayton Wang. Third Row - Kayla Krezman, Phil Maduro, Stephen Bachmann, Hunter Borer, Sean Miser, Morris McAllister, and Kourtney Raaum. |
The Warriors ended the season with a 6-6 record, which made them eligible for the playoffs for the first time in the six years that the Warriors have been established. The Warriors also secured first time wins over both Logos from Moscow, Lake City High School, and the University Titans from Spokane.
Goalie Wesley Kreiner, behind a strong defense of Shane Hefferman, Jed Allen, Clayton Wang, Morris McAllister and Hunter Borer, has the team record for the highest save percentage at 58-percent.
Midfielder faceoff specialist Stephen Bachmann has the team record for the highest number of face off wins in a season, 84, while defenseman Shane Heffermann has the highest number of ground balls this season with 55.
In the semi-final play-off game the Warriors played the Gonzaga Prep Bulldogs, who were ranked first in league standings at the end of the regular season. The semi-final game was played under the lights in Spokane.
Bachmann won the opening face-off, taking the ball to the goal and quickly feeding Mitch Carroll, who put the ball in the back of the net just 17 seconds into the quarter. That would be the only Warrior lead of the game.
The Bulldogs would score 7 unanswered goals to lead 3-1 at the end of the furst quarter, 6-1 at the half, and 7-1 in the third quarter before Joel Field, in a diving motion in front of the goal, beat the Bulldog’s goalie for the Warriors’ second goal of the game. Bachmann finished out the scoring for the Warriors in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs added two more goals in the final quarter. The final score was Bulldogs 9, Warriors 3.
Although the Warriors did not make it to the championship game, another first was completed that day when both middie Mitch Carroll and defenseman Stephen Heffermann were recognized as part of the North Idaho Lacrosse league all-star team for 2011.
Carroll was recognized for his 17 goals and 4 assists while also having one of the most accurate hard shots in the league.
Heffermann was recognized for his aggressive defensive plays, which helped to keep the Warriors’ opponents in single digit scoring. He was also recognized for his ability to get grounds balls with 55 in all this season.
The Warriors success this season is also attributed to the financial support that they have received this year. The Warriors would like to thank Jay Wages, Les Schwab Tire Company; Skip O’Fallon and Patti Branson, Mountain West Band, John and Julia Schrom, and Anita and Daniel Kreiner for their donations. Based on their donations the team was able to purchase new white jerseys this year. The blue jerseys have been worn for the past six years.
Coach Niewieroski is pursuing the possibility of having a summer camp for boys in grades 7th-10th grades running from June 20th-24th. Anyone interested in having their son(s) attend a possible summer camp can contact Coach Niewieroski at 267-2778.