FREEPORT — Little steps.

That’s what Freeport High School boys lacrosse coach Geoff Arris is working on with his team in this early season schedule.

Saturday’s chilly 9-7 loss to Gorham uncovered several positives for Arris’ squad despite the team’s third loss in three starts.

First up? How well the Falcons stuck together despite being outshot (53-19), and losing the groundball battle decisively, 58-38. Face-offs were also a disaster for Freeport as the Rams held a 14-6 edge.

However, goaltender Alex Sturtevant kept his team in it with 22 saves, most from in tight when he either stuffed a Gorham attacker or managed to snag the ball with his own net.

“This is a big step when you’re finally competitive for an entire game, and it didn’t go our way, but that is part of lacrosse, and today they realized they are a team,” said Arris, whose squad was hampered with 16 penalties resulting in 12 man-up opportunities for the Rams. “We were down 13 minutes that game, a quarter-plus, and our defense did phenomenal and held them pretty good.”

Freeport defenders Sam Farrar, Matt Schultheiz and Dylan Mansfield faced a barrage of pressure from Gorham (2-3) throughout, with Sturtevant trying to keep it together while suffering from flu-like symptoms.

“A lot of shots were up close, especially in the first quarter, and once our defense got going the shots were a little easier to get to,” said Sturtevant. “I’ve had games where I have seen double amount the shots, so this wasn’t so bad. I was just trying not to throw up the whole game. We held our own and started coming back.”

Tough first quarter

Clayton Morrison’s rising shot gave Freeport an early 1-0 lead, but Gorham scored two goals after Falcon penalties en route to a 4-1 advantage through a quarter. Tyler Rankin tied the game with his first of three consecutive first-quarter goals, and Anthony Coppola finished off a pass from Elliot Gagne, one of his five assists, with the Rams up two players for a three-goal lead.

The Rams held an 18-5 edge in groundballs in the opening frame, with Freeport whistled for six infractions.

“Groundballs are a problem, but this is the first time we have been on this field in a week,” said Arris. “They are going for the guys instead of the ball. Some are getting it and others are not. It will come, and I think we will have a couple groundball practices coming up.”

Sturtevant made four of his nine first-half saves early in the second quarter, and his teammates began chipping away at the Gorham lead on the offensive end. Sam Wogan converted a setup from Evan Hench, and Hench scored a pair of goals off setups from Isaak Dearden three minutes apart to tie the game.

But, Gorham answered just 24 seconds after Hench’s second goal, as Gagne beat Sturtevant. Gagne wasn’t finished, setting up teammate Caleb Dolloff with 16 seconds remaining until halftime as the Rams went to the break leading 6-4.

The third quarter began with another Freeport penalty, and Gorham took advantage when Coppola scored. Rankin’s fourth goal made it an 8-4 contest before Hench and Coppola traded goals as the Rams took a 9-5 lead to the final quarter. The lead might have been larger if not for Sturtevant, who turned away nine Gorham shots in the quarter.

“Alex is our anchor. He keeps us in the games, making the big saves and the outlets,” said Arris of his goaltender.

Hench buried a shot behind Gorham netminder Matt Petty (four saves) and Dylan Mansfield scored moments later from Galen Simmons to draw the Falcons back to within two goals, 9-7, with 6:59 remaining.

But, Gorham possessed the ball for the majority of the remaining time, with Sturtevant making four more stops in the 9-7 loss.

The Rams finished three-of- 12 with the man advantage, while the Falcons, who host Fryeburg Academy on Thursday at 4 p.m., were three-of-five.

Gorham long-stick defender Nate Holloran had a gamehigh 10 groundballs, with teammate Brad Turnball picking up six and Mike Susi five.

For Freeport, Dylan Arris led the way with seven groundballs, while Hench had six, and Morrison and Ryan Kump five each.

Gorham 9, Freeport 7
At Freeport High School

Gorham — 4  2  3  0—9
Freeport — 1  3  1  2—7

Goals — (G) Tyler Rankin 4, Anthony Coppola 3, Elliot Gagne, Caleb Dolloff; (F) Clayton Morrison, Sam Wogan, Evan Hench 4, Dylan Mansfield.

Assists — (G) Elliot Gagne 5, Anthony Coppola, Caleb Dolloff; (F) Evan Hench, Isaak Dearden 3, Galen Simmons.

Shots — Gorham 53-19.

Saves — (G) Matt Petty 4; (F) Alex Sturtevant 22.

Groundballs — Gorham 58-38.

Records — Gorham 2-3, Freeport 0-3.

Next for the Falcons — Thursday at home against Fryeburg Academy, 4 p.m.

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