*Editor’s note: This is the third in a series featuring athletes from an extremely prolific 2013 Davis High senior class.

When the Schlosser, Buhlman, McPherson planets aligned, the Davis High lacrosse boys were almost unbeatable.

In helping the Blue Devils win 38 of 44 games over the past two seasons, seniors Mikie Schlosser, Rudy Buhlman and Will McPherson are best of friends who always seemed to be on the same page.

Attacker Schlosser — the team’s leading scorer in each of his four years of varsity play — helped keep the pressure off an accomplished DHS defense.

Buhlman, who with his two pals were All-Sacramento Valley Lacrosse League selections, made sure that if anyone did get through, his path to the goal would be a treacherous one.

In those instances that an opponent did face down the goalie, there stood McPherson — armored and imposing.

“These guys have put in a lot of work for this time,” Devil coach Nick Juri recently told The Enterprise. “Obviously, we’re going to miss them.”

Talking about Schlosser, Juri searched for the right words:

“This guy is unstoppable. The other teams game-plan for him. They know he’s going to be there and yet he still finds a way to be open.”

About McPherson, Juri adds: “That guy’s a beast. He should be an All-American goalie. He’s just a wall.”

Juri calls Buhlman’s defense “take-no-prisoners” and is already at the drawing board moving his returners around to fill in the gaps that will be left by this graduating trio.

For Schlosser and McPherson, it’s off to the University of Michigan. Buhlman will stay within bring-home-laundry distance as he’ll attend Dominican University (San Rafael).

Each looked back at what their time in high school meant …

“I will take away all the friends I made and the close relationships,” Buhlman says. “(There are) a lot of lacrosse memories. I love my team … it has been such a pleasure to play with them and a great privilege to be coached by Nick Juri, Cliff Hu and Adam Kenney. They have been a big part of my life and great supporters.

“On the field? I don’t have one favorite memory. Every time I stepped on the field, it was something new — a different feeling and full of suspense and emotion.”

Schlosser looks back and tells people: “I wouldn’t trade (my experience at DHS) for anything in the world. It has been awesome. Truly awesome.”

Schlosser, like Buhlman and McPherson, says he’ll cherish the friends he’s made and thanks his coaches and teachers: “The friends that I have made and the memories we have shared together will last a lifetime … maybe two.”

McPherson says his Davis years are “in one word, unforgettable. I’m sad that it is coming to a close, but I know college will offer many more great memories.”

Schlosser was highly recruited and committed to Michigan lacrosse before his junior season began, while McPherson says once back east, he’ll work to earn a program spot. If not, he’ll don the gear for the school’s club squad.

“One way or another, I’ll play at Michigan,” says the solid student whose family includes five generations of Wolverines. Brother John — himself a former Devil athlete — will be a senior in Ann Arbor next year.

Dominican, which has featured former DHS sticker-handlers Reed Upson and Kyle Mitchell, now gets Buhlman — who is excited about playing for eighth-year head coach Ned Webster.

“(He) was one of the first coaches to contact me,” Buhlman explained, adding he considered Dominican early, but once he decided to stay in California, Webster’s tour of campus and the region while meeting potential teammates sealed the deal.

“I loved the campus, the area,” the Penguins’ new defender recalls.

Each of the three played other sports as kids, but their friendship and the quality of DHS lacrosse galvanized when they decided to concentrate on the sticks as freshmen.

Consequently, the honors have poured in for the departing threesome.

In additional to all-SVLL first-team honors, Buhlman will play with Schlosser in the Adrenaline Prep All-American Game (Costa Mesa) on June 8.

Buhlman was also named the Devils’ most inspirational player

McPherson earned DHS’ defensive most valuable player honor.

Schlosser again was named offensive MVP, was awarded the Don Aiello Leadership Award and is one of four Northern California players named prep All-American.

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or 530-747-8047.

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DHS senior lacrosse standouts — from left, Mikie Schlosser, Will McPherson and Rudy Buhlman — are good enough that they play three-way catch with two balls. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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Good friends and leaders of the DHS lacrosse team for the past few seasons, Blue Devil seniors — from left, Rudy Buhlman, Will McPherson and Mikie Schlosser — spend some time having fun together as their high school years come to an end. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

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