Cobble Hill’s Reed Gallaugher helped the Island-based 49ers lacrosse team to fourth place at the USBOXLA Nationals in Huntington Beach, California.
Gallaugher was the lone Cowichan player on the team, which is run out of Victoria and also included athletes from Juan de Fuca, Peninsula, Saanich, Port Alberni and Kelowna. Gallaugher had previously played for the 49ers at the Sandstorm field lacrosse tournament in Palm Springs last January.
The 49ers opened the tournament with a 5-2 win over the Calgary Minotaurs, followed by a 4-3 win over True Minnesota and a 7-2 victory over Denver Elite. They lost 4-2 to 3D Georgia, then beat 3D San Diego 8-6 to qualify for the bronze-medal game.
The 49ers faced Lacrosse Force from Las Vegas for third place. Trailing 7-2 early in the first half, the Island team ended up on the wrong side of a 9-3 final score.
“The team was out-run given that the American teams were loaded with field lacrosse kids,” said Gallaugher’s dad, Jason. “Their speed was pretty evident.
“All in all, fourth place wasn’t bad for a team who had only practiced three times prior to the tournament, and never with the whole team.”