YARMOUTH – Mitch Tapley scored four goals, including two early in the second half as unbeaten Falmouth pulled away from Yarmouth for a 14-5 victory in a schoolboy lacrosse game Friday night.

This was Falmouth’s first-ever victory against its traditional rival — a fact not lost on Coach Mike Lebel.

“When I took this job five years ago, we’d play them in a preseason scrimmage and it would be like 19-1 with running time,” Lebel said. “We couldn’t get into our offense because we couldn’t keep the ball. So no question this is a big win for us, a huge step for our kids.”

The Yachtsmen (6-0) threatened to run away early, taking a 4-0 lead in the opening quarter with Will Sipperly scoring twice, and Tapley and Zach Alexander once each.

But Bart Gallagher stripped a Falmouth defender and scored from in close in the first minute of the second quarter, a long Ethan Cyr carry led to a pretty Nicholas Ronan assist to Max Watson right in front, and a man-up goal by Sam Torres made it 4-3 with 3:29 left in the half.

“They had the momentum and we got a little anxious, and Coach just told us to calm down and run our offense and run our defense,” said Tapley.

“We started making better decisions and it went from there. This is a real confidence booster for us.”

“Even when it was 4-0 I knew it was going to be a tough game,” said Lebel. “They’re a well-coached, traditional Yarmouth team. We made a few mistakes but we hung in there and eventually things opened up.”

Nick Bachman scored unassisted from 20 yards to give the Yachtsmen a 5-3 halftime lead, and after Falmouth goalie Cam Bell robbed Matt Murphy with a terrific save in the first minute of the second half, Tapley scored on a man-up situation, then converted a Bachman feed in close to make it 7-3.

When Johnny Goodrich scored halfway through the third quarter, it looked like Falmouth was back in control.

But Torres scored on a pair of nifty solo efforts in the final minute to make it 8-5 after three quarters.

The fourth quarter was all Falmouth, with Tapley scoring twice.

“The game was closer than the final score,” said Lebel. “They’re a far better team than people give them credit for. I think Yarmouth (4-2) is one of the scariest teams out there, and (Josh Britten) is one of the best defensemen in the state. But they’re young and we were able to wear them down.”

“It was by far our best game yet,” said Yarmouth Coach Steve Moore.

“Emotionally and physically. We’re a young group, and we’re really just one step away. We need to play four quarters of consistent top-level lacrosse. It’s a learning process. But we kicked and scratched, and I can’t ask for better than the effort the kids gave.”