Roseburg boys lacrosse has high expectations despite season-opening 11-7 loss
With five returning All-Southwest Conference selections that reached the second round of the Cascade Cup playoffs last season, the Roseburg High School boys lacrosse team has high hopes for the 2025 season.
“We’re going to compete for a conference title. That’s our goal and if we fall short, that’s on me,” Roseburg coach Kyle Dever said.
Despite their lofty goals, the Indians started the season with an 11-7 loss to a talented Newberg club on Wednesday at Finlay Field.
“I’m proud of the way the kids rallied the whole game,” Dever said. “I think some nerves. Some kids’ first varsity game. I think some of that got to us a little bit. But overall I’m real pleased with the way we finished and some things to build on here.”
Dominic Williams and Cruz Dirksen return for the Tribe after earning second-team all-conference honors last year. Jacob Michael, Byron Irvin and Andy McCurdy received honorable mention.
Michael, a senior attack, said the team has plenty of experience to lead the way this season.
“Our potential is through the roof this year. We’re at a higher point than we were last year,” Michael said. “We’ve got lots of returning varsity players and JV players have really stepped up this year.”
Newberg (1-0) got three goals from returning first-team all-league selection Colton Seifert as the Tigers began defense of their Northwest Conference championship last season.
The Tigers jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first half and survived Roseburg’s third quarter fury by finishing the game with a 4-2 advantage in the fourth quarter.
The play of goalie Shae Brown highlighted Newberg’s victory. The junior made 19 saves to stifle the Indians.
“That’s a standout performance by him. I think we can score four or five more on most goalies, so that’s a heck of a performance by him,” Dever said.
Roseburg (0-1) did come out of the halftime break inspired. The Indians out-scored Newberg 4-2 in the third period and got within 6-5 on a goal by Michael with 2:26 left in the period.
Junior Jaden Kemmerle and sophomore Gavin Michael led Roseburg with two goals each. McCurdy had 13 saves in goal for the Tribe.
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“It was a tough game, but we came out fighting. I think if we do that moving forward we can have a lot of wins this season,” senior defenseman Carson Tyler said.
“I think that third quarter shows us where we can be and we’re going to keep building on that,” Dever said.
Roseburg continues the season at home against Sprague at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
