Westside Lax OR. Player of the Year
Here is the WSL player of the year for Oregon boys: Henry Schoonmaker
When most coaches have a favorite memory of one of their top scorers, it’s usually an acrobatic shot or a fancy, how-did-he-see-that pass that springs to mind.
But when asked for one the most memorable plays involving WSL Oregon Player of the Year Henry Schoonmaker, Lincoln head coach Will Harris chose an attribute he says embodies his player’s style and success: Effort.
“It was a critical play in the (2008) state championship against (Oregon Episcopal). Late in the game we were down a goal,” explained Harris.
“Henry wins a face-off but loses it right away and has to go back to our zone and fight off a couple players for a loose ball. He wins it back and gets it into our offensive zone then gets double and then triple-teamed. They put him on the ground but he gets up and gets the ball into our playmakers, we score and tie the game and then we win in regulation for our first championship. That’s when we knew Henry had something special.”
For his part, Schoonmaker recalls the key play during his sophomore year as well.
“I remember (afterward) I was dead, just dead,” he said. “After I got it (to the playmakers), I didn’t think I had anything left and then we scored and I had to go back for the (ensuing) face-off.”
Harris said leaving it all on the field is part of what makes Schoonmaker, who will be taking his talents to 11-time NCAA Division I champion Syracuse this fall, such a successful player.
“Henry came (to Lincoln) in a very strong class,” Harris said. “As a group, they played JV2 as freshmen. I heard a ton about them as a class and Henry was always at the top, not because people thought he had the smoothest stick or slickest style. He works for what he gets, and it’s his work ethic people talk about.
“And he gravitated to that part of the field where those things matter, winning face-offs, leadership, all those things coaches love. I never thought ‘Oh my gosh, this is a great lacrosse player.’ I just loved the way he works, on the field and off the field, where he’s always staying after practice, even after games, practicing his shooting. (He does) all the things that are the glue to a championship team.”
Schoonmaker describes himself as “a very scrappy, hardworking player. Some people give up; I don’t.” He attributes his toughness to being the youngest of three boys. “My brothers used to beat the (crap) out of me. My brothers would say, ‘I’m just making you tougher.’ I guess it did.”
None of this is to suggest the 6-foot-1, 185 pound Schoonmaker can’t put up gaudy offensive numbers. In 24 games this season, the middie scored 66 goals and added 25 assists while scooping up 179 ground balls to lead Lincoln to its second state title after losing in the final a season ago.
Predictably, Schoonmaker was far more proud of the championship than the stats.
“We were really excited the whole year. Our senior class, we were pretty much all on JV2 together and are really good friends, more of a family. And we set out on a mission this year that we had to win states.”
Despite what he’s accomplished, Harris thinks Schoonmaker’s best lacrosse is ahead of him.
“He’s a tremendous athlete and has taken the best advantage of his athletic ability, but he still has a ton of potential in terms of lacrosse skill,” he said. “He’s demonstrated the ability to improve every year.
Programs across the nation will see a lot of freshmen this year who have maxed out on lacrosse and athletic skill. Henry hasn’t come close to maxing out, athletically or with lacrosse skill….With that environment and that coaching (at Syracuse), he’s going to blossom.”
