Mt. Whitney had its sharp stretches Wednesday night. The first-half press, a well-executed man-up finish, and contributions from six scorers all helped the Pioneers earn a 16–9 win over Strathmore. Holding that level for four quarters proved more difficult.

With another game waiting Thursday, Whitney looked a little tired as the evening wore on. Still, the Pioneers found enough offense, and got a valuable contribution from a young goalkeeper, to keep their league record perfect.

Senior Casey Sherbrook wasn’t feeling well, putting freshman Zayden Kendig in the cage for the first half. Zayden handled the assignment well, making five saves while Whitney’s press made Strathmore work for its opportunities. His teammates provided solid defensive support early, and the Pioneers’ shooting was sharper before halftime.

Junior Jamen Radmacher helped lead the way with four goals, earning Player of the Game honors. He stayed involved throughout the pool, adding two assists, two steals and two sprint wins while drawing an exclusion and a five-meter penalty. On an uneven night for the team, that range of contributions mattered.

Senior Eli McLennan brought plenty of firepower alongside him. His shots had their usual velocity, although the accuracy came and went. Even with some frustrating misses, Eli finished with four goals and three assists.

Freshman Zane Piper helped create opportunities for the other shooters, delivering five assists. Senior Ruben Ramirez scored three times, sophomore Micah O’Dell and Alex DeBock added two goals apiece, and Zane scored once. Whitney could turn to several players for a finish, helping the offense keep moving through its less polished possessions.

Strathmore had boys making things happen, too. Junior Zach Crissman finished with four goals and an assist, giving him a direct hand in five of the Spartans’ nine goals. Freshman Michael Wilkinson contributed a goal and two assists, while senior goalkeeper Jackson Sherrill recorded 17 saves. Whitney left some chances unfinished, but Strathmore’s keeper also earned his share of those stops.

The third quarter exposed the difference between Whitney’s early defense and what followed. As the Pioneers eased off their press, the Spartans found more room and easier opportunities. A couple of costly ejections made the quarter harder still.

Whitney ended it with a reminder of how well the offense could operate. A cleanly executed man-up possession produced a goal to close the third, giving the Pioneers a strong finish to an otherwise loose stretch.

The pace dropped again in the fourth. Passes and shooting remained inconsistent, and Whitney looked ready for a breather. With Hanford coming the next evening, the busy schedule may have been catching up with the boys.

Even so, they finished with a seven-goal win. Zayden had answered the call in the first half, Jamen had delivered an all-around performance, and six different Pioneers had put the ball in the net. The defensive lapses gave Coach Chapman something to address before the next whistle.

Whitney improved to 14–7 overall and 5–0 in league play, with Hanford visiting Thursday. The turnaround would be short. The goal would be to carry Wednesday’s better stretches through a full game.