Puyallup tackles tough Auburn-Riverside

Puyallup was tested Thursday night and is relieved to have passed the test against Auburn-Riverside with a 15-7 win over the Ravens. In the closest contest of the year to date, the Vikings couldn't shake the pesky Ravens the entire first half. Riverside's smothering and agressive defense frustrated Puyallup and it showed as they could get the fast break started or get good hole sets. Katie Hayes scored a minute into the game and Puyallup would go three minutes before scoring again when Joanna Boschee' scored a sweep shot with 2:36 to play. Paige Boyer made it 3-0 a minute later, but Riverside came right back with a goal with 25 seconds left to play in the first. Things got even tighter in the second period as back to back goals by Riverside's Amy Cleveland got the Ravens to within one at 4-3 with four minutes left to play . Goals by Boschee' and Lauren Griffin gave Puyallup breathing room at 7-3, but Riverside scored a 5 meter penalty shot that put them back into the game at 7-4. In the second half Boschee' put the Vikings on her back and dominated the water for the first four minutes of the half. She hit a streaking Griffin on the second half sprint for a quick goal, then drilled two more goals herself to put Puyallup up 10-4. Boschee' would finish with a team high six goals. A double ejection that saw Riverside lose their best defender midway through the third period took the wind out of Riverside and it was smooth sailing for the Vikings after that. Bianca Jimenez, Griffin and Brenda Pogue all scored third quarter goals that pushed Puyallup's lead to 13-4. A couple of 5 meter penalty shots in the fourth for Riverside wasn't enough and Puyallup collected win number five. The Vikings get little time to celebrate as they play Emerald Ridge Friday in their third game in three days. Game time is 3:30.

Puyallup shuts out Emerald Ridge, 7-0

The Puyallup Vikings recorded their sixth win in a row with a 7-0 shut out of district rival, Emerald Ridge. Behind Alex Clark's strong play in goal, Puyallup played aggressive defense for the second straight game to win its third game in three days. Feeling the effects of playing three games in three days in three different pool, Puyallup appeared sluggish and were a little sloppy in the first half. Behind goals by Joanna Boschee' and Paige Boyer, the Vikings grinded out a 3-0 halftime lead. While the Viks weren't sharp offensively, they shone on the defensive side as Hope Mahnken and Katie Hayes teamed up to shut down ER's 2 meter play. Lauren Griffin stayed up with ER's speedy Brittany Bushnell to deny the Jaguars an outside threat. The defensive pressure also resulted in several shot clock violations on the Jaguars which Puyallup used in the second half to pull away. The Viking shut out was put to the test with 42 seconds left to play and Puyallup facing an Emerald Ridge power play. Boschee' got a hand on a shot from the top and Clark gobbled up the lose ball and found a streaking Boyer for the final score with 17 seconds left in the game. Puyallup is back in action on March 29 at Sumner against Bonney Lake. Game time is 3:15.

Vikings get defensive in win over Auburn

Puyallup made it four wins in a row as it defeated Auburn 22-8 last night at Puyallup. While the Vikings have been tearing off goals at a record clip all season--they lead the league in goals scored-- the focus against Auburn was to play aggressive defense. Alex Clark, Hope Mahnken and Katie Hayes stood tall defensively for the Viks as their stops and blocks lead to fast break after fast break which resulted in easy scores for Lauren Griffin and Paige Boyer. Griffin scored three goals in the first quarter and Boyer added two as Puyallup jumped out to a 8-1 first quarter lead. Boyer helped her own cause with incredible pressing defense on Auburn's point position which forced the Trojans to throw into the defensive maelstrom that was Mahnken, Hayes and Clark. A first-ever goal by Katarina Ost, two from Katie Hayes, and single goals from Sam Evans and Griffin pushed the Viking lead to 13-4 at halftime. In the second half, Katie Wells took over in the goal where Clark left off. She probably had the play of the night as she stopped a five meter penalty shot by Auburn's Kellie Wietstock. Puyallup's team defense turned in anther sterling play with 3:30 to play, when in a double down situation, stopped Auburn's power play with just four girls in the water. Shanna Josephson, with her first-ever goal, closed out the scoring and the Trojans with just 12 seconds to play. Next up for the Viks is Auburn-Riverside at Auburn on Thursday at 7:30 pm. It is the middle game of three in a row for Puyallup. The Vikings travel to Rogers on Friday afternoon to face Emerald Ridge in a pivotal league battle. Game time for ER is 3:30.

Vikings Swim over Sumner for second straight win

Puyallup jumped out to a 8-0 lead after one quarter of play and never looked back as the Vikings swam over Sumner 24-14, Friday night to record its second straight win of the season. The first quarter was the Joanna Boschee' show as she scored five of the 8 Viking goals, including 4 in a row in a span of two minutes. Paige Boyer added the first two Viking scores and Hope Mahnken tallied a goal as well. It wasn't just offense either as Alex Clark stood tall in the cage keeping the Spartans off the board for the first quarter and a half. She ended up just giving up three goals in her one half of play in the goalie spot. Katie Hayes was also strong on the defensive side knocking down several Sumner shots from the outside. She also stepped up and played tough D in the two meter spot after Manhken was ejected with her third personal foul late in the third quarter. In the third quarter, Puyallup displayed balanced scoring as Boyer racked up four goals, Mahnken added two more goals, Boschee' added another, and Bianca Jimenez knocked down a goal with 16 seconds left in the quarter. The scoring flurry pushed the Viking lead to 19-8 going into the fourth quarter. The final frame saw a lot of reserves see extensive action. Clark, out of the cage and into the field, took advantage of the time and scored three goals. Again it was the new players learning under fire as Sumner outscored Puyallup 6-5 in the fourth. Chelsey Coble, Pam Akiona and Shanna Josephson all played solid defense, and Katie Wells continued to improve in the goal. Next week will be a busy week as the Vikings play three games in a row beginning with Auburn at home followed by road games at Auburn-Riverside and Emerald Ridge.

Win with a Mountain View

Puyallup battled a scrappy Auburn-Mt. View team and its own inexperience to earn a 21-17 season opening victory last night at the Auburn pool. While the Vikings inexperience reared its head again and again, it was Puyallup's experience that got the Vikings off to a strong start last night. Joanna Boschee' racked up three quick goals as Puyallup jumped out to a 5-2 first quarter lead. Behind two more Boschee' goals and three from Paige Boyer, Puyallup surged out to an 11-2 lead midway through the second quarter. Defensively, the Viks were solid early as well. Hope Mahnken was tough at the two-meter and Paige Boyer was constantly pressing the Lions point into turnovers and bad passes. Alex Clark, fresh off a state basketball appearance, was solid in the cage getting several key blocks including a 5 meter penalty shot. Auburn Mt. View didn't go away, however, and it climbed back into the game late in the half with three straight goals to make it 13-5 Puyallup at the half. Katie Hayes got the second half scoring started and Bianca Jimenez and Clark also recorded third quarter scores as Puyallup led 17-7 with 2:49 left in the quarter. Puyallup's offense then bogged down and didn't score again until 12 seconds left when Pam Akiona scored her first-ever goal with a sweet, low corner, under the goalie's arm shot in the shallow end.The final frame was a matter of hang on time as brand new team members got their first taste of game action. The result was predictable as Auburn Mt. View turned errant passes into fastbreak opportunities and Puyallup went scoreless for the final 3:17 of the game. Up next for the Vikings is their first home game of the year this Friday against Sumner. Sumner also won its opener against Auburn. Game time is 7:30

Vikings gear up to defend water polo league title

With 10 players returning from last year's undefeated league champs, the Viks should be in good shape to contend for a repeat title in 2007. Despite losing 8 seasoned veterans from last year's squad, this year's edition appears to be an overall better swimming team, but will probably experience some growing pains as the new swimmers on the team learning the game of polo. Doing most of the teaching will be returning starters Joanna Boschee' and Paige Boyer. Also figuring into the mix will be co captains, Hope Mahnken and Katie Hayes, two of the team's top defensive players. The Vikings will also look to sophomore Lauren Griffin and her blazing speed to stretch defenses. Seniors Sam Evan and Brenda Pogue have also looked good in early season drills. Junior Alex Clark will takeover in the cage for Kelsey Hamilton, who enrolled at Rogers High School. She has just joined the team as a result of being involved with the basketball team's march to the 4A state tournament. Newcomers that have impressed so far include freshman Kat Ost, and juniors Marissa Fletcher and Chelsey Coble. Puyallup will look north and south for challenges for the league title from Enumclaw and Auburn Riverside and Rogers. Puyallup will open up league play Tuesday, March 13 with a road game against Auburn Mountainview at the Auburn pool. Game time is set for 7 pm. Puyallup's home opener is Friday, March 16 against Sumner. Game time is 7:30.