The Windham boys’ varsity and junior varsity lacrosse teams traveled to Scarborough and took on the Red Storm in two very strong games on Saturday, April 22. Windham varsity tied the game early and scored goal after goal after goal to pummel Scarborough 14-5. The JV game was closer, but at the final buzzer, Windham had a 5-4 victory.
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| Windham senior Alex Momot stays ahead of Scarborough defenders during a boys' varsity lacrosse game at Scarborough High School on Saturday, April 22. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
“We’ve been trying to play better individual defense as well as collective team defense,” said Windham varsity boys’ lacrosse coach Peter Small. “We were pull checking more, we were in people’s hands; we keep talking about being in their hands when they get the ball ... today we saw that.”
Offensively, Small said the team didn’t force things; they let it flow and found space. Windham fought for ground balls harder than they ever had before during this game.
Scarborough scored twice at the beginning of the first half. Windham came back and changed the tone of the game when senior Alex Yeaton scored, followed by sophomore Evan Yale. Windham showed Scarborough they were going home with the ‘W.’
Junior Tobias Perkins scored next, then junior Blake McPherson scored twice. Senior Owen Gaulrapp’s goal put Windham ahead 6-2 at the half.
“We were coming off a good game against Bonny Eagle,” said Perkins. “We’ve been playing really good at practice all week; we came in confident but not too confident and it was just a great team win.”
Perkins said defense played great as did Windham senior goalie, Phillip “Reed” Wescott. The transition game was good. The offense moved the ball fluidly which opens spaces for everyone to score. Perkins said passing, clearing the ball, running the offensive system and playing a clean game with few penalties were all things that went well.
According to Wescott, the transition game went well. He said he trusts his teammates to get the job done.
In the second half, Perkins had back-to-back goals; then Yeaton scored. Yale got his second goal of the game. Junior Landon Buzulcuck scored in the fourth quarter.
Small said the team is developing trust in one another, even when things go wrong. Windham shot more and their shots were smarter. Defensively, communication was improved.
Junior Varsity
Windham began with strong passes and were aggressive right away. Windham sophomore CK Kennedy scored. Eagle defense slowed Scarborough.
Scarborough tied the game 1-1, but then freshman Garrett Winslow put Windham ahead. Windham was talking and were quick to capitalize on Red Storm mistakes.
Windham freshman Jack Jordan fired the ball at the ground, and it bounced into the net. Right before the end of the half, Windham led, 3-2.
In the second half, Windham continued their intensity when they intercepted a pass and took a shot at goal. They were fighting hard for the ball.
Scarborough tied it up 3-3. Despite this goal in the third quarter, Windham defense still put the brakes on Scarborough and blocked several scoring opportunities for them.
Windham freshman Jack Henry scored in the fourth quarter. Scarborough tied it up 4-4 as the game was coming to an end.
“It was our teamwork we put together in that game,” said Windham freshman Jack Henry. “We couldn’t have done it without ... everyone. Passing, catching and our communication and defense was really good.”
Windham freshman Ryan McPherson scored the game-winning goal.
McPherson said he was open, and he knew if his teammate passed him the ball he could score. McPherson said they earned the win because they played as a team and held each other accountable. Passing and catching went well.
“We really put a focus on conditioning and skills this season,” said Windham JV boys’ lacrosse coach Seth Fournier. “It showed significantly in our transition game. They rose really, really well; once they got that first goal, they were there, and they knew they could play."<
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