BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford boys lacrosse team gave Thornton Academy all it could handle on Monday evening, but it wasn’t enough as the visiting Trojans held on for an 11-8 win over the Tigers at Waterhouse Field.

Despite the loss, Biddeford coach Sean Foley was thrilled with his team’s effort.

“I’m proud. I’m proud of all of them,” said Foley. “Like I told them, that was probably the best lacrosse I’ve seen them play together since I’ve been here. I told them not to hang their heads, that was a good game they just played.”

The host Tigers got on the board first when Liam Turner scored at the 10:34 mark of the first quarter. Thomas Levasseur answered for TA just over a minute later to make it a 1-1 game.

Biddeford (3-7) would respond with a goal from Cody Sevigny just 30 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead.

The visiting Trojans would take control late in the first quarter as they scored three goals in the final five minutes. CJ LaBreck started the scoring streak with a goal at the 5:05 mark and Wyatt LeBlanc and Levasseur would score goals in the final minute to make it a 4- 2 lead for TA after one.

The second quarter would be all Tigers. Colby Plante and John Gilliam would both score goals to help Biddeford send the game into halftime tied at 4-4.

Biddeford would start the second half strong as Plante would find the back of the net just over a minute into the third period to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Trojans’ offense would come to life over the next 10 minutes as they went on a 4-1 run.

TA’s Charlie Katz would tie the game at 5- 5 at the 9:25 mark of the third and LaBreck would give the Trojans a 6-5 lead just over a minute later.

Sevigny would answer for Biddeford with just over five minutes left in the third, but the Trojans responded with two goals – from Noah Edborg and Levasseur – late in the period to take the lead for good.

TA would put the game out of reach early in the fourth as the Trojans got scores from Levasseur, LaBreck and Edborg to push the lead to 11-6 with 5:31 left in the contest.

Sevigny and Plante scored late goals for Biddeford, but it wouldn’t be enough to pull off the upset win.

TA coach Ryan Hersey was impressed with Biddeford.

“They definitely, from the face-offs to the groundballs, they outworked us tonight and showed that they can play,” said Hersey.

Hersey hopes Monday’s back-and-forth battle will help his team down the stretch.

“When we get into a close game like this we don’t need them improvising, we need them to execute the plays even more,” said Hersey. “At times we did OK and then at other times we tried to do stuff that we asked them not to do … we just talked about, ‘in times when the game is close, we need you executing plays to a T. We don’t need you coming up with your own stuff.’”

Hersey is looking for the Trojans (7-2) to step up in the final week of the regular season as the Class A South playoffs are right around the corner.

“We had a few good games, you know we executed pretty well, but today wasn’t a great step forward by any means,” said Hersey. “It wasn’t what we were looking for as far as execution goes … our last game of the regular season is next Tuesday and we are looking for people to execute what we are asking them to do and (players) we can trust.”

TA will host Bonny Eagle and Biddeford will welcome in Noble this afternoon.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @ JournalTsports.