| WTHC Fremont 2006 Report (01.14.2006 - 01.15.2006) | ||||
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Finally, the long awaited Western Team Handball Conference was launched in Fremont, CA, where Cal Heat hosted the first of three tournaments which crown the Western Team Handball Champion. Although it was the first such event ever, the host did a great job organizing a tournament which ended up being a great success and hopefully initiates a boom in team handball popularity throughout the West. LATHC traveled to Fremont with a reduced roster due to members? conflict with their work schedules. However, the team consisted of a healthy mix of veteran leadership (Maunula, Wanders) and young, gifted talent (Hinson, Mirailles, Namdar). Even though this composition of the team played together for the first time and without significant practice opportunities, the result was promising. The first game, a showdown with the other LA based team (Santa Clarita), ended up being a nail biter up to the last minutes of the game. Behind a strong defense, LATH was able to stay close, trailing by four at halftime. In the second half, contrary to recent games, LATHC was able to pick up the pace and challenge Santa Clarita. With ten minutes to go in the game, LATHC took the lead but ran out of steam as time was winding down. After 60 minutes, Santa Clarita walked off a 32:30 winner. Leading scorers for LA: Hinson, Maunula: 7 each Goalies: Schulz, Tsoulougian The second game is a story told in few words. Playing the second game on 90 minutes rest, LATHC was not able to mach the pace of a well rested Cal Heat team. The host team steam rolled over a tired LA team and finished the game with a 40:18 edge. Leading scorer for LA: Namdar: 6 Goalies: Schulz, Tsoulougian The final game, played early Sunday morning, was LATHC's best showing of the tournament. Usually not known to perform well in the morning, LA was ready to play this time and challenged a tough Warrior team from the very beginning. Driven by the passionate play of coach Maunula and backed by the stellar goaltending of Tsoulougian, LA took an early lead and managed to hold on for the remainder of the game. During the final five minutes of the game, LA had to hold on for dear life while fending off furious attacks by a desperate Warrior team which could have robbed LA of a well deserved win with a free throw after time expired. Luckily, Haskic's shot bounced off the post to give LA a 19:18 win. This final game displayed an enormous collective effort of the whole LA team which fought with passion and emotion to take home three points and stay in the race for the title of the Western Team Handball Conference Champion. Fueled with optimism and belief, LATHC will only improve over time and pose a dangerous threat for the other teams at the next tournament in Utah. Leading scorer for LA: Maunula: 9 Goalie: Tsoulougian
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