Unbeaten Richland lacrosse seizes 1st victory in WA playoffs

Richland’s undefeated season continued Saturday with another dominant performance as the Bombers rolled past Juanita 18-4 in a state playoff game at Fran Rish Stadium.

The win advanced Richland to the next round of the postseason and added another chapter to one of the program’s strongest seasons in years. The Bombers finished a perfect 12-0 in Central Conference play this season, earning the conference title while outscoring opponents by 155 goals.

For Richland coach Chad Mitchell, the success has been years in the making.

“The way these guys play as a team has been really impressive. They’re unselfish,” Mitchell said. “We’ve been building this program for years. To see where we are now is pretty special.”

Richland’s offense again showed its balance and chemistry in the playoff win. The Bombers finished with 18 goals and 14 assists while keeping constant pressure on the Juanita defense throughout the afternoon.

Senior Nolynd Cook led Richland with five goals, while Conner Allington and Jack Henrie each finished with five points. Daniel Zoller added four goals, and Lance Johnson contributed five assists.

Johnson, a junior, has emerged as one of the state’s top playmakers this season. He led the conference with 72 points and 47 assists during league play. Cook, one of Richland’s senior leaders, ranked among the state’s top scorers with 48 goals.

Richland’s chemistry has been built over years of playing together, something several players said has become one of the team’s biggest strengths.

“We’ve been playing together since second grade,” senior Ezekiel Rodriguez said. “We know where each other is going to be and what we’re going to do. That chemistry gives us confidence. We trust each other out there.”

Many of Richland’s seniors grew up together through youth lacrosse programs before helping guide the Bombers to an undefeated season and conference championship this spring.

“Winning the conference title was huge for us,” Cook said. “We set that goal as freshmen, and to do it undefeated makes it even better.”

Senior Gavin Walther said the playoff run has already marked an important step forward for the program.

“We’ve never made it past the second round before, and it’s been a long time since this team has gone undefeated and won a conference title,” Walther said.

Mitchell said the close relationships between players have helped shape the identity of the team both on and off the field.

“We’ve got a group of kids who started playing together in second or third grade,” Mitchell said. “That’s built a lot of chemistry. They work hard, but they also enjoy it. They have fun playing together.”

That connection extends beyond practices and games, Rodriguez said.

“We’re together all the time, not just on the field,” Rodriguez said. “That makes it more fun, and it shows in how we play.”

Three of Richland’s six seniors plan to continue playing lacrosse at the college level after graduation, while others are preparing for careers in the trades, including electrical and welding programs.

Mitchell credited the program’s growth to years of support from former players, coaches, parents and the community.

“We’ve had a lot of people invest in this program,” Mitchell said. “Former players, coaches, parents, the community. It’s taken all of that to get here.”

Richland will host Mercer Island in the next round of the playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fran Rish Stadium.

-Scott Hunt is a freelance photographer and writer in the Tri-Cities.