The San Juan Dragons won the Skagit Conference lacrosse title Tuesday with a 12-4 win over Whatcom, at Whatcom Community College.

The Dragons (10-2) host North County (1-10) on Saturday at 2 p.m. to close out the regular season; North County lost its last meeting with the Dragons 13-5. Division II playoffs had not been scheduled by Wednesday morning.

It’s the Dragons’ first title in four seasons in the Washington High School Boys Lacrosse Association, a testament in part to third-year head coach Rob Cuomo’s leadership, and in part to the fitness and scrappiness of his team.

Cuomo, a former college lacrosse standout, took over the helm of the Dragons in 2008, a year after they finished 3-11 and in last place amid a rebuilding year. In Cuomo’s first season, the Dragons finished 5-5 and tied for first. In 2009, the Dragons finished 8-4 and tied for second.

Tuesday at Whatcom, San Juan dominated from the outset, scoring 3, 2, 6, 1 to Whatcom’s 2, 1, 1, 0.

Senior attackman Kyle Skoog led San Juan scoring with four goals and one assist. He also recovered three ground balls. Senior midfielder Michael Ausilio recovered 17 ground balls. Senior goalie Calen Mehrer had 11 saves and recovered two ground balls.

Jona Mannering led Whatcom scoring with two goals. Goalie Kurtis McFadden had 11 saves.

With one game left to go in the regular season, San Juan senior attackman Ryan Guard is sixth in goals (33) in the six-conference, 29-team Division II of the Washington State Boys Lacrosse Association. Senior midfielder Forest Dayton, for four years a bulwark of the team, is 13th with 28. Senior midfielder Michael Ausilio is third in ground balls (98). Mehrer is ninth in save percentage (.676); he’s faced 170 shots, had 115 saves and allowed 55 goals in 478 minutes at the goal.

STANDINGS
Skagit Conference
San Juan 10-2-0 (W4)
Stanwood 8-4-0 (L1)
Whatcom 5-7-0 (L1)
Skagit Valley 3-9-0 (W1)
North County 1-10-0 (L2)