BRUNSWICK

The time is now. When looking up and down the Brunswick High School boys lacrosse roster, what jumps out is the number 12.

It is not one player that this number signifies, but about the list of grades on Don Glover’s squad this season.

Count ’em … There are an amazing 16 seniors on the Dragons’ roster this season. It is a group of players that Brunswick lacrosse fans know well. In Wednesday’s 21-4 Regional final win over Messalonskee, these senior athletes accounted for 19 goals and 14 assists, a stat that has been rather consistent this season.

In goal, there is senior Mitchell Smith, who always seems to have the ability to make the big save when needed. Defensively, Ezra Rogers and Kenan Van Vranken are the prototypical shut-down defensemen, along with back-end players Brad Leaman, Alex Marc- Aurele and Alec McPherson providing relief, while the senior forwards/midfielders are Matt Brooks, Ryan Croatti, Owen Ginty, Cam Glover, Tyler Hillis, Ricky Klatt, Eric Kousky, Ian Schlosser, TJ Sullivan and Kyle Woodruff.

“Everybody does their job,” said Sullivan, who had seven goals and an assist in the win over the Eagles. “This year, we have been in more close situations, and from last year we learned how to play in close games. The experience has helped us and we have certainly learned from it.”

Last season certainly didn’t end the way the Dragons had hoped. Facing a talented South Portland team at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, Brunswick played a nervous first half, trailed big at the half, rallied in the second but came up short in a 10-8 loss. As fate would have it, the Red Riots and Dragons will meet again for the State Class A title, on the same refurbished Fitzpatrick Stadium field, both teams one year older.

“We were so close last year, and we knew that for all 16 of us, this year was it for us,” said Croatti after his four-goal performance against Messalonskee. “This is the last time for us playing together. We have been together for seven or eight years.”

This season, the Dragons have been about learning from past lessons. Last year, Brunswick lost regular season contests to Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth. This year, the Dragons dominated the Clippers on the road, 14- 8, and battled back in the second half to force overtime before downing the Capers, 15-14. Think of this, Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth will meet for the State Class B title on Saturday. Quality wins? You bet!

Now, this team’s final lesson comes on Saturday.

“We are still learning from last year, and by correcting our mistakes we have become a better team,” said Ginty. “We need to move the ball against South Portland, and just make good decisions and not allow easy shots. We have to keep possession. We always talk about possession, and winning ground balls and getting shots.”

Ian Schlosser

Possession begins and ends with faceoff specialist Schlosser, who frustrated fellow midfielders and head coaches over the past four years.

“I will not be disappointed to see Ian Schlosser go,” joked Messalonskee coach Tom Sheridan after Schlosser won 19 of 24 faceoffs in the Regional Final win. “He has an ability to win them, and that gives Brunswick possession.”

“We need to keep it simple, settle down and play,” said Brunswick coach Don Glover. “When we get hyped up and play outside our comfort zone, we get into trouble. We love the transition game, the fast pace of it. Our focus is ground balls and possessing, along with taking advantage of the transition game.”

Coach Glover feels his team can win on Saturday if they continue to learn the lessons of the past.

“I wouldn’t say they have focused on the past, but more focus has been on their potential,” said the Dragons coach. “These seniors are about playing to their abilities and not the scoreboard. One of their goals was to go undefeated, and I wasn’t sure that was going to be possible. I am impressed with their accomplishments and they have aspired to getting better every day.

“For us, it is about focusing on us. The bad taste in our mouth last year was because we didn’t play our style for four quarters. We played well for two quarters, the second half. We got nervous and didn’t play well in the first half. This season, we didn’t really focus on who we were going to play, but more on focusing on what we do. If we do that, we will be OK.”

“We need to play our game, doing what we have done all year, and it will work out,” said Sullivan. “South Portland is a good team and we are a good team. It is going to be a good game.”