WESTBROOK — Noah Oliver scored four times, Grayson Post scored twice and added an assist as Westbrook held off a late surge by previously unbeaten Gorham for a 9-7 win in a Western Class A boys’ lacrosse game Monday afternoon.
Oliver, who scored three of his four goals in the second quarter, called the win a complete team effort.
“Our offense was working well, especially our rotation early,” he said. “Once we caught fire we just didn’t let up.”
The Blue Blazes (7-1) jumped to a quick lead in the first quarter, scoring on a nice backhand shot by Curtis Knapton two minutes into the game.
Midfielder Brandon Labbe added another goal one minute later after receiving a feed from Post, a freshman.
Post scored twice later in the period for a 4-0 Westbrook lead before Matthew Anderson scored for Gorham (7-1) from 2 yards out.
“The kids were communicating, keeping their sticks off and playing as a unit,” Westbrook Coach Josh Plowman said. “Defensively it was the same deal. Communication on the field was big for us.”
Westbrook continued its offensive assault in the second quarter as Oliver scored three times in the final 61/2 minutes, highlighted by a bullet sidearm shot from 5 yards out with 2:23 to play.
“Keeping consistent game to game is important for us,” Oliver said. “We can only win when both our offense and defense are working as one.”
John Tibbetts also scored for Westbrook in the second quarter, scoring from 10 yards out to add to the Blazes’ lead.
Gorham co-captain Michael Susi added a goal before the half, cutting the deficit to 8-2 at halftime.
In the third quarter, solid defense and physical play helped out goalkeepers Carter Landry of Gorham and Alex LeBlanc of Westbrook, who finished with 16 saves.
Gorham’s Cameron Wright scored the only goal of the third quarter, charging in from behind the net with 8:49 remaining.
Wright helped make it an 8-4 game when he set up Tristan Brunet 3 yards out in the fourth quarter.
The Blue Blazes got their ninth when Oliver scored 5:19 left to play, but the Rams weren’t done.
With 2:14 to go, they began to limit their passes and capitalize on some sloppy Westbrook offense to score twice – both by Wright – with 2:14 and 1:37 left to make it 9-6.
The Rams’ last surge came with 38 seconds left to play when Wright assisted Alex York on Gorham’s last goal.
Coach Plowman, a 2005 graduate of Gorham High School and former lacrosse captain, always finds games against his former team entertaining.
“Regardless of the opponent we play, we try to play consistent lacrosse no matter what,” Plowman said. “But it feels pretty good to get this one.”
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