Bighorns Split Saturday Doubleheader

The Oasis Academy College Prep Bighorns faced the first challenge in their regular season on Saturday with two back-to-back home games.

The Bighorns defeated the Bishop Manogue junior varsity Miners 13-2 but lost in their second game against Damonte Ranch, 13-11.

The Bighorns’ next chance tip ahead is Saturday at 10 a.m. against Northwest Manahoacs at McQueen High School.

In the first game of the day, the Bighorns pressured the Miners early. Midfielder Trent Thorn started off the scoring and attackman Trey Rooks added his first of the season shortly after.

Midfielder Tristan Rodarte then scored a pair of goals and lifted the Bighorns to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Fallon’s Koda Biggs scored his first goal of the season, followed by Rooks’ second of the game, and Nick Delgado’s first.

Midfielder Josh Carter got on the board with his first of the season while Rookie Midfielder Trevor Wuth sped into the offensive zone and scored his first of the season as well.

After most of Fallon’s offense had scored, Carter, Rodarte, and Thorn put on a show and set up a hidden ball trick. The group faked Rodarte holding the ball, and after a fake shot from Rodarte, Carter fired a rocket to the top corner of the net from 20 yards away. Rooks completed his hat-trick with a goal in the fourth quarter and Biggs completed the scoring for the Bighorns.

A last second goal from Manogue brought the final score to 13-2.

Goaltenders Kaden Stone and Brendan Leary each gave up only one goal while the Bighorns’ defense held the Miners to 10 shots on the game.

With a short break, the Bighorns then turned around to take on Damonte Ranch and came out of the gate strong with Rooks scoring early.

Midfielder Jess Gantt then added his first of the season, and Rooks added another to start the game with a 3-0 lead.

Wuth then scored his second goal of the season, and the Bighorns ended the first quarter up 4-0. Midfielders Carter and Rodarte both added goals, and Delgado scored to bring the Bighorns lead to 7-4 at the half.

At this point, over an hour into the second game of the day, the Bighorns players started showing some fatigue.

Delgado added his second of the game to open the second half scoring and defenseman Devyn Frederick charged upfield with an open lane to the goal.

Rooks completed his second hat-trick on the day, but Damonte managed to come back to tie the game.

Rodarte appeared to re-take the lead after a highlight reel goal, but Damonte asked for a stick check, and the same stick that had been judged legal between quarters was now found to be illegal. The goal was waived off, and a three minute penalty was assessed against the Bighorns.

On the ensuing power play, Damonte scored again while Blake Bradley scored his first on the season, bringing the Bighorns within one. Delgado did manage to complete his hat trick a minute later, but by then it was too late.

Exhaustion after nearly four and a half hours of lacrosse let Damonte turn their offense around and grab the comeback.