BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s boys’ varsity lacrosse team spotted visiting Saints Peter and Paul five first-half goals in the season opener on Monday before battling back but coming up a little short with an 11-9 loss.
The young, but potential-laden Seahawks opened the 2016 season with an 11-9 loss to the visiting Sabres, but there appears to be much to build on. Decatur dropped some passes, missed the net on more than a few shots, had a few breakdowns here and a couple of lapses there, but they certainly didn’t lack for hustle and energy.
Both teams started a little sluggish on the blustery afternoon on Monday and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. Saints Peter and Paul went on a run in the second quarter, however, and opened a 5-0 lead by halftime. Decatur regrouped at the break and Coach Scott Lathroum made some adjustments and the Seahawks got back in the game.
Steve Alther got Decatur on the board early in the third with a goal on a nice isolation move to cut the lead to 5-1. About three minutes later, Charlie Coates got open on the crease and converted to pull the Seahawks within three at 5-2 with over nine minutes left in the period.
The Sabres answered less than 10 seconds later, however, and extended their lead to 6-2. With just over eight minutes left in the third, Saints Peter and Paul scored again to push the lead back to five goals at 7-2.
Undaunted, the Seahawks continued to rally through the third quarter. Alther scored again on a tough shot after weaving through the Sabres’ defense to cut the lead to 7-3. About a minute later, Liam Deck found Coates open on the crease with a nice assist on an extra-man play to cut the lead to 7-4. Alther added another goal with just over three minutes left in the third to cut the lead to 7-5, but Saints Peter and Paul answered with a goal on an unsettled situation to push the Seahawks’ deficit back to three at 8-5 as the period ended.
Through the fourth, Decatur kept putting pressure on the Sabres’ goal as Dryden Brous continued to dig out face-offs and set up the Seahawk offense. Twice Decatur cut the lead to two goals, but Saints Peter and Paul almost always had the answer.
In the end, the Sabres held on for the narrow 11-9 win, but Decatur actually outscored them in the second half, 9-6, providing something to build on for the young Seahawks. With the exception of a handful of returning players, including Alther and Brous, for example, Decatur is very young and will likely go through some growing pains early, but there was certainly no lack of effort and determination in the opener on Monday despite the outcome. It won’t get any easier for Decatur this weekend as they travel across town to face familiar neighborhood rival Worcester Prep on Saturday.