FREEPORT

Taking the energy from playing their first regular season game on the new turf field, the Freeport boys lacrosse team played a hard 48 minutes, but fell short in the end, dropping a 12-6 decision to Western Maine Conference foe Fryeburg Academy on Thursday.

“It’s tough to lose one here today,” said Freeport (0-1) coach Geoff Arris. “But being out on our field the last three weeks put us in good position today, we just didn’t execute.”

Each team felt each other out in the first six minutes of the game, both getting off a couple shots, but with no real threats to score.

Fryeburg broke the scoring silence with two quick goals — 11 seconds apart — to jump to a quick 2-0 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter.

Caleb Bowler made it 3-0 with an unassisted tally with just over two minutes remaining in the opening frame.

Freeport’s Kaleb Barrett scored the first of his two goals in the game, firing a shot past the Fryeburg goalie with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw much of the same play as in the first 12 minutes. Both teams remained physical, keeping each other off-balance, not allowing the other team any sort of momentum.

“We played them last year, so we knew what to expect with their physical play,” said Arris.

Gunnar Gurnis scored off a pass from Cole LeBlond midway through the second quarter to give the Raiders (1-0) a 4-1 lead.

Freeport began to put on the pressure following the goal. Despite hitting the post three times, denying three separate goals, the Falcons began chipping away by getting the next two scores. Steel Crawford scored with 3:11 left and then assisted Harrison Johnson’s score with just 29 seconds left in the half, trimming the lead to 4-3 at the half.

Freeport held a slight advantage in shots, 11-9, and trailed in faceoffs, 6- 3 at the half.

Fryeburg kept the aggressive, physical play on the Falcons, getting goals from Evan Caracciolo, Gurnis ( two) and Bowler to extend its lead to 8-3.

Nate Thomas got a late goal for the Falcons and trailed 8-4 through three quarters.

“ We knew what to expect with these guys today,” said Thomas. “We knew we could hang with them.”

Following a Caleb Eklund goal to put the Raiders up by five goals, Freeport once again battled back. Barrett scored a goal while the Falcons took advantage of playing a man up, and a minute later Thomas found the back of the net for the second time to bring the score within three, 9-6.

“ Being outside early this year helped up today,” said Thomas. “ It helped us because we’ve been able to practice real lacrosse style play, not condensed in the gym.”

Arris added to those comments.

“ Since the first day of practice, we’ve been able to do things outside this early in the year that we haven’t in the past,” said Arris. “It gives us spatial awareness and has help us get in shape as well.”

However, the three-goal deficit was as close as the Falcons got. Fryeburg tacked on a pair of goals, another by Caracciolo and a tally from Jared Chisari to put the game at a distance.

Fryeburg held a slight advantage in shots, 22-20 and in face-offs, 13-9, but it was their physical play that separated them from the Falcons.

“ We need to fine- tune some things, like shutting them down during transition and be better with our rotations,” said Arris. “We need to be better at keeping our composure and not take stupid penalties. We played short- handed a lot tonight.”

“ We found out tonight about some of things we need to work on,” added Thomas. “Like communicating better on defense or making better passes.

Gurnis registered four goals and an assist for Fryeburg. Brevin Mutrie made five saves in the victory.

Garrison Thompson turned away three Raiders shots in net for Freeport (0-1).

Freeport next plays North Yarmouth Academy April 25 at 6 p.m.

Fryeburg 12, Freeport 6

At Freeport

Fryeburg	—	3	1	4	4	—	12
Freeport	—	1	2	1	2	—	6

Goals — (Fry) Gunnar Gurnis 4, Evan
Caracciolo 2, Caleb Eklund 2, Caleb
Bowler 2, Jared Chisari; (Free) Kaleb
Barrett 2, Nate Thomas 2, Harrison
Johnson, Steel Crawford, Griffin
Johnson.
Assists — Gunnar Gurnis 2, Liam
Chisari 2, Ben Fraize, Cole LeBlond;
(Free) Griffin Johnson.
Shots — Fryeburg 22, Freeport 20.
Saves — (Fry) Brevin Mutrie 3;
(Free) Garrison Thompson 5.
Faceoffs — Fryeburg 13, Freeport 9.
Records — Freeport 1-0, Fryeburg 0-
1.
Up next for Falcons — April 25 at
home against North Yarmouth Academy, 6 p.m.