It took the Cape Elizabeth boys’ lacrosse players about a quarter to figure out their task: How do we beat Waynflete’s zone defense?

The Capers’ ah-ha moment came when they scored eight goals in the second quarter Friday on the way to an 18-6 victory in a season-opening B Western Maine Conference game at Waynflete’s Fore River Fields.

Finn Raymond, left, of Cape Elizabeth is held back by Cooper Chap of Waynflete while looking to pass Friday during their season-opening boys’ lacrosse game in Portland. The Capers won, 18-6. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

Senior attack Griffin Thoreck led Cape Elizabeth with six goals and four assists. Linemate Ben Shea scored twice and had five assists. Midfielder Riley Pillsbury had three goals. Cole Caswell and Connor Thoreck each scored twice, and twin brother Owen Thoreck had a goal and three assists. Tommy Brett and R.J. Sarka also scored for the two-time defending Class B state champion Capers.

“We started slow but once we were able to recognize the holes in their zone we were able to find the open guy, and we did well at finishing,” Griffin Thoreck said.

After his team scraped out a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, Cape Elizabeth Coach Ben Raymond gathered the players, said a few words, and was willing to watch and wait.

“This early in the year you don’t want to coach them too much (during games,)” he said. “The thing I like about the regular season is we put guys in situations where they have to figure things out on their own. They see in the moment on the field what is working and what isn’t. That’s how they learn best.”

Raymond’s patience paid off.

“We started to push a side, cut through and look for the cutter with the extra pass,” Shea said. “It happened every time and the cutter finished. That’s how we were able to open up that big lead in the second and third (quarters.)”

Of course it doesn’t hurt that one of the cutters was Griffin Thoreck, who early on collected passes behind the cage and pushed his way in front for shots on Waynflete keeper Graham Ratner (14 saves.)

“Griffin has just a pin-point accurate shot,” Waynflete Coach Dan Thomsen said. “They definitely found our weaknesses and exploited them.”

The Flyers, who were missing five players because of injuries and spring break, were outmanned but they weren’t outworked. All six goals came off strong individual efforts. Harry Baker-Connick, Hank Duvak, Will Nelligan, Cooper Chap, Willy Burdick and Joseph Connors each scored an unassisted goal for Waynflete. Will Lewis led the defense, dishing out big hits and collecting three interceptions in close.

The Capers, who were also missing a handful of players, including standout defender Noah Haversat, got a strong game from converted midfielder Jack Drinan, who moved back to defense, where graduation took a toll. Drinan closed down attackers quickly, scooped ground balls and fired passes up the field.

“It definitely helps to have athletic defenders,” Griffin Thoreck said. “We play a press-out defense, and get on people’s hands and that makes them panic. Having that athleticism is huge, plus we in goal we have Alex Navaraez (eight saves). It all starts with him.”

“At times we moved the ball really well, in spurts,” Raymond said. “Waynflete did a really good job with a limited roster. They ran a lot of guys in and out of the game and packed it in. We really wanted to get out in transition and we weren’t able to do that.”

In fact, none of Cape’s 18 goals were unassisted, each one set up by a clean pass.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said an upbeat Thomsen. “It’s a long season and we’re looking forward to getting back at it.”

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