Tokyo Lacrosse Club midfielder Keisuke Sakurada (right) takes control of the ball in a face-off against Okinawa Lacrosse Club midfielder Chris Kupka in an exhibition game Dec. 2 at the Foster Field House athletic field. The Okinawa Club is comprised of American service members and Okinawans. (Photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers

*View/download a high res copy of this image.

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (Dec 8, 2006) -- The Tokyo Lacrosse Club thrashed the Okinawa Lacrosse Club 13-6 in an exhibition game Dec. 2 at the Foster Field House athletic field.

Tokyo dominated the Okinawa club, which is made up of U.S. service members and Okinawans, from start to finish by coming out strong in the first quarter and never looking back.

Tokyo owned the first quarter, quickly scoring five goals, while Okinawa only put up one.

"When the game starts, it's important to make the first goal because it has the initiative that we think is very important," said Naoto Takahashi, an attacker for Tokyo.

Okinawa gained a little ground in the second quarter, scoring three more goals while holding Tokyo's offense to two. The half ended with Okinawa still in reach at 7-4.

Okinawa attacker and team captain Jim Peterson did his best to rally his troops for the second half, but the team couldn't hold back Tokyo's offense.

Tokyo added three goals in the third quarter and Okinawa couldn't keep pace as they added only two.

In the fourth quarter, Tokyo put the nail in the coffin, easily scoring three more goals while a tired Okinawa squad could do nothing but watch.

"Typical of Japanese lacrosse, the stick skills are always there, and the speed just doesn't stop," said Okinawa defenseman Mark Roberson.

Peterson said the game was an appropriate send off to National American Indian Heritage Month which encompassed the month of November.

Lacrosse was originally played by Native Americans in preparation for war. The game has seen many changes since its inception, but the warrior spirit that the game instills in its players remains the same.