AZ BOYS: Tucson Tanque Verdes Tops Mountain Pointe, 14-9

The surprise team of Arizona lacrosse just keeps getting better.

Junior middie Phil Coogan registered a co-game-high seven points on five goals and two assists to lead Tucson Tanque Verde to a 14-9 victory over Mountain Pointe in an Arizona Youth Lacrosse League Division I game Tuesday afternoon.

Senior attackman Stephen Hutchison added four points on three goals and one assist, and junior middie Erik Misiak and senior middie Jeff Weiler each finished with three points on two goals and one assist to help the Sabercats (3-0) win their third straight to start the season.

Senior attackman Jake Plaisted and freshman attackman Cody Lloyd each had a goal and an assist to round out the offense for Tucson, which has already matched its win total for the entire 2009 season.

Defensively, senior goalie Brandon Holley saved 13 shots.

In defeat, Bobby Hilton scored two goals and dished five assists for Mountain Pointe (0-1), which dropped its season opener.

In a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicates, Tanque Verde led 6-1 at the end of the first quarter, 10-4 at halftime and 13-4 at the end of the third before head coach Chuck Rullan emptied his bench during the final 12 minutes.

“I’m incredibly impressed with the camaraderie of this team and how hard everybody plays,” Rullan said. “They stick up for each other on the field, and defensively we get better every game. Our defensive middies are really stepping up now.”