BATH

Coming into the 2016 boys high school lacrosse season, Morse coach Jay Paulus knew his team was going to take some lumps, with a decent turnover of personnel after last season.

But, the Shipbuilders showed some promise in their Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference opener with Gardiner on Thursday, holding tough in a 14-11 loss.

There were several standouts for Morse (0-1) in its opener, like Cameron Marco, who had three goals and an assist, and Declan Hall, who tallied three goals. Jacob Brochu and Matt Belanger each picked up three points, and first-time goaltender Nate Knight was superb in his debut, turning aside 14 shots, most from point-blank range.

“We are a very young team with a goalie who was in there for the first time,” said Paulus. “It was an impressive performance from Nate. He kept us in the game. I was hoping our offense would produce more, and I feel as the season goes on they will find themselves.”

Gardiner (1-0) rode the hot hand of midfielder Sloan Berthiaume. He won 17 of his 23 face-offs and tallied a game-high five goals, including two during a key four-goal, fourth-quarter stretch that turned a 10-10 deadlock into a 14-10 Tigers lead.

Slow start

Morse certainly played like a young team in the opening quarter, out-shot 13- 2 and out-scored 4-1. After Marco answered a Berthiaume goal for a 1-1 tie, Gardiner reeled off three straight goals — Logan Clark, Connor Manter and Triston Hebert.

The Shipbuilders began finding their offensive flow in the second quarter. Marco finished off a pass from Zidane McMurrin, and Hall scored unassisted to get Morse to 4-3. Brochu, from Marco, and Braden Olsen, from Belanger, helped draw Morse to 7-5 at the intermission.

Coming out of the break, Morse showed its potential in the third quarter. The Shipbuilders tallied five goals, including four straight for a 10-8 lead with 3:39 left in the frame.

“We have a new team and it took some time to get comfortable,” said Marco. “The third quarter was better. We were putting passes together, and that is so important.”

Tied 8-8, Ethan Brown gave the Shipbuilders their first lead, and moments later Hall broke loose and slipped a shot past Gardiner goaltender Noah Keene for a 10-8 advantage.

But, Gardiner pushed back, with Berthiaume finishing off a pass from Clark, and Tanner Hebert scoring unassisted to produce a 10-10 deadlock through 36 minutes of lacrosse.

Clark’s third goal and fifth point of the contest 2:01 into the final frame put the Tigers ahead to stay.

Moments later, Morse was called for a pair of infractions, giving Gardiner a two-man advantage. But, Knight stood tall again, making three tough saves to keep it a one-goal game.

But, Michael Poirier scored between a pair from Berthiaume to give Gardiner a 14-10 edge.

Brochu finished off the scoring with 41 ticks remaining.

“I saw a lot of good things, though the slashes were a bit out of control on both sides, something our kids haven’t seen much of,” said Paulus, whose squad faces Maranacook/Winthrop on April 27. “We have a hard schedule, Brunswick, Mt. Ararat, and we know we will have to fight hard every game. We don’t worry about the scoreboard, whether it is up or down. We just want to play our best.”

Morse defenders Alex Martin, Patrick McKenna and Max Gurney were solid in front of Knight.

Warren Karlberg played in goal for Gardiner in the opening half, turning aside four shots. Gardiner outshot Morse, 42-27, and held a 17-13 edge in face-offs.

Gardiner 14, Morse 11

At McMann Field in Bath

	Gardiner		— 4	3	3	4	—	14
	Morse	—	1	4	5	1	—	11

Goals — (G) Sloan Berthiaume 5, Logan Clark 3, Connor Manter, Triston Hebert 2, Marshall Clements, Tanner Hebert, Michael Poirier; (Mo) Cameron Marco 3, Jacob Brochu 2, Declan Hall 3, Braden Olsen, Matt Belanger, Ethan Brown.

Assists — (G) Logan Clark 2, Connor Manter, Triston Hebert, Michael Glazier, Tanner Hebert; (Mo) Cameron Marco, Jacob Brochu, Zidane McMurrin, Matt Belanger 2, Ethan Brown.

Shots — Gardiner 42, Morse 27. Saves — (G) Warren Karlberg 4, Noah Keene 4; (Mo) Nate Knight 14. Face-offs — Gardiner 17, Morse 13. Records — Gardiner 1-0, Morse 0-1. Up next for the Shipbuilders — April 27 at Maranacook/Winthrop, 4 p.m.