The Sammamish Totems are still trying to find an elite-level striker on their roster in 2011, but that has not stopped them from finding themselves undefeated and ranked as one of the top teams in the state in 3A.
The Totems boast an experienced corps of defenders and have what coach Daryl Gonyea calls “one of the better keepers in the league” in senior Stuart Ellsworth. “A big strength of this team is defense,” Gonyea said. “Right up the middle, we have Stuart Ellsworth and Nick Rooney has a lot of experience and is a real physical player.”
Gonyea said that combination of physicality and experience in their own end has carried the Totems through the opening part of the season.
“Anytime you have a combination like that in the back it really solidifies things,” Gonyea said. “We have three seniors that are big, strong guys, it makes it easier for everybody else.”
Except opposing players.
With Ellsworth in net and the experience around him, the Totems have yet to allow more than two goals in any of their seven games this season and have shutouts against Lake Sammamish and Liberty. “Defensively, we work as as unit, we talk well and we play physical,” Ellsworth said.
On the other end, Gonyea said his team is working on keeping possession of the ball for longer stretches of time, something that has been hampered by their struggles with injuries early on.
In all, eight players have missed time for the Totems including senior Taylor Berg, who has dealt with a pesky hamstring injury and forward Dauda Sonah, who is recovering from a concussion. Gonyea said he hopes Spring Break will ease the ailments of at least some of his walking-wounded, adding he is optimistic that some or all of them could return to action possibly against Bellevue on Tuesday. If the Totems are able to get their top eleven on the field, Gonyea expects it will lead to more sustained offensive attacks.
Another key component to their success thus far has been the leadership of Ellsworth and the rest of the senior class. Gonyea praised his upperclassmen for creating a family-like atmosphere around the team. “We’ve got a really solid senior core,” Gonyea said adding, “I’ve had great teams here and this is another one that seems to really pull for each other and everyone has everyones back.”
