READFIELD

Morse made all of Maranacook/ Winthrop’s hard work from the first half dissolve less than three minutes into the second half of Wednesday’s Eastern Class B boys’ lacrosse quarterfinal.

The Hawks needed to regroup. Despite the rapid change in momentum, they were willing to take their time doing it. Knowing they had the quick-strike capability of Zach Glazier and the quick hands and feet of Zach Bessette, they could afford to slow things down.

Glazier scored back-to-back goals to break a 6-6 tie and spark fourth-seeded Maranacook/ Winthrop as it dominated the rest of the game, thanks also in large part to Bessette’s outstanding work in the cage, which limited No. 5 Morse to two goals in the final 21 minutes of a 14-8 victory.

“We just got a little hop to our step and we got back to our game,” Bessette said. “We came out (for the second half) a little flat-footed. They scored three quick goals, but we came back and got back up and really put them down and never let them back in the game.”

Toby Smith added three goals and Dan Condon and Jesse Evans chipped in with two goals apiece for the Hawks.

Alexander Paulus, Oliver Kruz and Alec Beveridge tallied two goals apiece for the Shipbuilders.

“We came off a win against Class A Messalonskee on Monday and thought we were mentally prepared for a playoff game,” said Morse coach Jay Paulus. “The entire team went flat. A ‘no show’ with regards to the talent that we had this year.”

Maranacook/Winthrop (11- 2) scored three times in the final 2:26 of the first half to take a 6-3 lead into the intermission.

But, Morse (9-4) came out firing in the second half. Paulus ignited the rally with a goal just 12 seconds in. Beveridge and Matt Buczkowski followed with goals 34 seconds apart to make it a 6-6 game.

It took the Hawks more than three minutes to take the lead back for good. Glazier spun off of a defender and unleashed a submarine shot that bounced past Morse goalie Kevin Thibodeau (nine saves) for a 7-6 lead with 5:49 left in the third quarter.

Glazier added another successful shot on net to make it 8-6 with 4:23 to go.

Paulus pulled the Shipbuilders back within a goal 22 seconds later, but Smith, Condon and Godbout answered by going tic-tac-toe, with Condon finding Smith as he charged the cage, to make it a two-goal game again with 49 seconds left in the period.

“A great season for us at 9-3, but uniformity didn’t finish well,” said coach Paulus. “It’s unfortunate, especially for my seniors Matt Buczowski, Alexander Paulus who played terrific all year. “Morse will lose seven seniors, however we have a very talented sophomore class with strong performances from James Laser, Alec Beveridge and Miles Day, and in goal Kevin Thibodaeu.”