Windham Youth Lacrosse turns in solid defensive effort

Windham Youth Lacrosse Organization's Ivan Arsenault,
right, a sixth-grader, gets by  a Cape Elizabeth opponent
on Sunday, May 15 at Twin Brooks Recreation Area in
Cumberland. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Youth Lacrosse Organization’s fifth and sixth-grade team played back-to-back games with Cape Elizabeth and Marshwood at Twin Brooks Recreation Area in Cumberland on Sunday, May 15 and looked sharp defensively.

Cape came out strong and scored several goals early on in the game. In the second half, Windham came back and got close to tying the game. Unfortunately, Cape scored a flurry of goals before the final whistle and won.

In the Marshwood game, the Hawks scored a bunch early on, but Windham worked hard to close the gap. Despite a great effort by Windham, Marshwood overtook this game.

Windham fifth-grader Kaleb Fitch thought the team played pretty well but could have done better. He said they had good passing, had some nice chances and their defense did well.

During the game with Cape Elizabeth, Windham had solid defense early on and blocked several opportunities for Cape Elizabeth before the end of the first half. Sixth-grader Josh Arbour scored first for the Eagles. Windham fifth-grader Carson Richard put the ball between the posts ahead of the first whistle.

In the second half, Windham kicked it up a few notches when Fitch, fifth-grader Bryce Rogers, Richard and sixth-grader Ivan Arsenault all scored.

Cape fired several goals in goal before the last whistle.

In Windham’s game with Marshwood, Windham defense held off Marshwood early on and Windham took several shots at goal. Richard found the back of the net three times in the first half.

In the second half, Windham’s Arbour scored. He was followed by Richard, who scored back-to-back goals, then Fitch. Windham scored two more times.

Richard said he thought they did well passing-wise and spreading out was decent. As the season has progressed, he’s seen their spacing, when to cut and where to be improve.

Windham fought Marshwood up to the last seconds and never wavered in intensity.

“The passing was better this game than the last,” said Windham Youth Lacrosse Organization’s fifth and sixth-grade boys’ coach Joe Somma. “The kids need to work on spreading the ball around doing cuts toward the goal, but overall, they did a pretty good job.”

Somma said that Windham continues to show improvement. 

“It depends on where the kids are playing; I want to get the kids in as many positions as possible. Some kids are better at other positions ... but they should all play those positions. Depending on who’s where, you’ll get different effort,” Somma said. <