PORTLAND – Caleb Kenney had the best game of his high school career at just the right time Tuesday night.

Kenney compiled a rare double-double as Portland capped an unbeaten regular season with a 16-12 victory against Scarborough in SMAA boys’ lacrosse game at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Kenney, a junior midfielder, had 10 goals and 18 ground balls as the Bulldogs raised their record to 12-0 to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Class A tournament.

“We had a lot riding on this game, so it was definitely time to step it up,” Kenney said. “Our whole team stepped it up. We had a great game all around.”

The Red Storm, who will play in the Western Class A tournament after finishing the regular season with a 7-5 record, played the defending state-champion Bulldogs tough.

“It was a very good lacrosse game between two hard-working teams,” Scarborough Coach Joe Hezlep said. “Portland came out and played great and never gave up. It was the same with our guys. We took their best punch and kept on coming back.”

The Bulldogs didn’t take the lead for good until Bronson Guimond scored on an assist by Lenny Schwartz to snap a 12-12 tie with less than three minutes remaining.

“You want to play a game like this to end the season to get ready for what you’re going to see in the playoffs,” Portland Coach Eric Begonia said. “We’ll have games like this every night now.”

Scarborough rallied from two-goal deficits four times to forge ties in the second half.

The Bulldogs recovered from an early three-goal deficit to pull into a 7-6 lead at the end of the first half. Kenney, who had four goals in the second quarter, finished off a fast break with a hard shot from 10 yards to snap a 6-6 tie with 27 seconds left in the half.

The Red Storm held a 5-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, with three of those goals coming off turnovers.

“We have a pretty long break, so I think this game made us step it up and get ready for the one-game season coming up,” Kenney said.

Portland doesn’t play again until June 12 in the regional semifinals.

Kevin Nielsen had a goal and three assists for Portland. Gordon Parker scored two goals, and Seamus Kilbride added a goal and an assist.

John Blaisdell scored three goals for Scarborough. Tennesee Peters added two goals and had an assist and Nick Neugebauer and John Wheeler each scored twice.

 

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com