SCARBOROUGH – Top-ranked Scarborough rebounded from its first loss of the season by running away with an 11-4 victory against Marshwood in a Western Class A boys’ lacrosse game Wednesday night.
The victory for the Red Storm (10-1) came five days after a 7-6 loss to Yarmouth.
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What was the difference?
“Turnovers,” said John Wheeler, who had three goals and an assist.” We didn’t turn the ball over as much as last game, which gave us more possession time.
“(Marshwood) didn’t have the ball that many times, and our clears worked out better than they did last game. We worked on our (ball) movement in practice, and it opened up and created opportunities.”
Scarborough, the two-time defending state champion, led 3-0 after the first quarter and 5-1 at halftime.
“We didn’t come out ready to play, it looks like, and we had a slow start,” Marshwood Coach Ralph Ruocco said.
“We let them jump out ahead of us and then our kids decided they wanted to play.”
The Hawks (9-2) had plenty of chances to get back into the game. In the first three quarters, they won 11 of 13 draws and held a 26-22 edge in shots.
But Marshwood also committed 27 turnovers. Often the Hawks would gain possession only to give the ball back as they moved it down the field.
“It was nerves, I think,” Ruocco said. “They see Scarborough. Some of the kids, it’s the first time playing against them, and they have that mystique about them.”
Scarborough goalie David Pearson made all but one of his 12 saves as the Red Storm built a 9-3 lead in the first three quarters.
“He definitely kept us ahead,” said Jon Blaisdell, who had four goals and two assists for the Red Storm.
“He had a ton of saves. They put a lot of shots on him so he came up big for us.”
Blaisdell credited Scarborough’s stingy defense, which has allowed a total of 38 goals in 11 games, with helping to ignite its transition game.
“Our defense gets the ball up the field quicker than any defense I’ve seen in a while,” he said.
“They really help us push the ball up the field in transition, and help us get possessions and keep those possessions.”
Ryan Pallotta also scored three goals for the Red Storm, and Andrew Jones had another.
Jeff Graunke scored two goals for Marshwood. Matt Scremin and Austin Hale each had one.
The victory kept the Red Storm, who end the regular season against highly regarded Thornton Academy next Wednesday night, in the top spot in the Western Class A Heal point standings, but Coach Joe Hezlep didn’t know whether the win nailed down home-field advantage.
“I’m not so good with those numbers,” he said.
Marshwood, which remains very much in contention for a playoff berth, will end its regular season next Wednesday against Cheverus.
Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:
pbetit@pressherald.com
Twitter: PaulBetitPPH
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