WATERBORO — The Deering boys’ lacrosse team has followed a consistent pattern this season, either one-sided wins against weaker teams or one-sided losses to obviously better squads. None of the Rams’ games have been decided by fewer than eight goals.

The pattern continued Monday night against Massabesic.

Deering, which started the day ranked seventh in the Class A North Heal point standings, took advantage of some holes in Massabesic’s midfield and raced to a 20-8 victory.

“Today was a great opportunity for us to get some Heal points,” Rams Coach Jon Dubois said. “(Massabesic) was (4-3) coming into the game, so we knew it was an opportunity for us to move up in the standings if we could get a (win).”

Deering (6-4) jumped up to fifth place with two home games remaining against teams with losing records – Windham and Noble.

“We’re hoping that by having our last two games at home that it will springboard us into a little run into the playoffs,” Dubois added.

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“We’re looking to get a home playoff game this year and hopefully that will make a difference in us getting a win and get into the second round. It’s been a couple years since we’ve gotten that deep.”

Deering jumped out quickly, building a 5-1 lead midway through the first quarter as Nate Richards (seven goals, two assists) and Omar Contreras (five goals) each scored twice.

The Mustangs (4-4) closed to within 5-3 at halftime on goals by Cameron Roy and Max Irons (two goals). But Massabesic’s leading scorer Ethan Ouellette (two goals), twisted his ankle on the Mustangs’ third goal. He missed the final 13 seconds of the first half and the entire third quarter.

Massabesic also played without starting midfielder Zion Mercado. Deering took advantage of the absence of Ouellette and Mercado to extend its lead to 11-4 after three quarters and continued to pull away in the fourth.

“On both sides of the ball, our middies couldn’t quite keep up,” Massabesic Coach Steve Gallo said. “We saw the inexperience and the lack of depth.

“I wasn’t fooling myself that our second line was gong to compete with theirs. But they have to do the basics, get back on fast breaks and not lose their man off the ball. They didn’t always do that, and that inexperience hurt us.”

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Richards said that grabbing an early lead was important for Deering after recent big defeats to powerhouses Scarborough and South Portland.

“To put the game away early was big,” said Richards, a senior midfielder. “We don’t want to have teams stick around and make it a close game.

“Today was really a big confidence boost, coming out here after a few losses. We really worked as a team.”

Deering goalie Tanner Nussinow made 10 saves, including many from in close as the Mustangs worked the ball inside.

“You always need a goalie who is going to make those (key) saves, because it can be demoralizing to give up a soft one in a close game,” Gallo said. “If he would have given up some earlier goals, it could have made a difference.”

Payson Harvey scored three times for the Rams, and Zach Harvey added two goals and two assists.


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