FALMOUTH—Falmouth’s boys’ lacrosse team had the opportunity to do something special Saturday afternoon.

Hosting two-time Class A champion Cape Elizabeth in the regular season game of the year, in front of a raucous crowd, the Navigators shot to a quick lead, but a breakthrough victory wasn’t to be.

Because no one has been able to solve the Capers this spring.

For good reason.

Cape Elizabeth took another step toward its first three-peat in a nearly a decade thanks to another brilliant display of doing the little things, as well as some big ones, all of which added up to another impressive victory.

Sophomore Joey Guerrette scored twice and senior Cyrus Boothby added a goal to give Falmouth a quick 3-1 lead, but in the blink of an eye, the Capers answered with five straight goals to go on top for good.

In the first 90 seconds of the second quarter, junior standout Keegan Lathrop and senior Connor Goss scored to turn the tide, then junior Sam Cochran and Goss added goals to make it 6-3.

The Navigators snapped a 12-plus-minute scoring drought and fought back within one behind goals from junior Caden Barnard and sophomore Gio Guerrette, but when the game entered the second half, Cape Elizabeth found another gear.

Like it always seems to do.

A highlight reel, over-the-shoulder goal from Cochran set the tone and a pair of late goals from unheralded senior Nick Laughlin stretched the lead to 11-6 heading for the fourth period.

There, Falmouth appeared on the brink of a dramatic rally when Gio Guerrette and Joey Guerrette scored in succession, but Capers senior Sebastian Moon turned the tide for good, winning a faceoff and scoring an unassisted goal and Cape Elizabeth pulled away from there for a 15-9 triumph.

Laughlin led all scorers with five goals, Cochran added three and the Capers improved to 11-0, won their 17th straight game over the past two seasons and in the process, snapped the Navigators’ six-game win streak and dropped them to 9-2.

“The third quarter, I think we played really well and the fourth quarter, we played well at times,” said longtime Cape Elizabeth coach Ben Raymond, after his 323rd career victory. “When we focus and the kids bear down and do the little things the right way, we’re really hard to beat.”

Passing every test

Coming off an absolutely dominant two-year stretch, which saw it win back-to-back Class A championships while losing just twice, the Capers were expected by some to show signs of mortality this spring, but it hasn’t happened.

Cape Elizabeth began with a 10-6 home win over South Portland, then beat host Gorham (13-2), downed visiting Yarmouth (11-6), held off host Thornton Academy (7-4) and visiting Falmouth (9-7), then dispatched visiting Messalonskee (14-5), host Scarborough (12-1) and host Yarmouth (14-8), then roared back to beat visiting Thornton Academy, 13-7, and won at York (16-9).

Falmouth, meanwhile, started by beating visiting Messalonskee, 15-4, then rallied for a 12-8 victory at Thornton Academy before handling visiting Gorham, 18-5. After a 9-7 loss at Cape Elizabeth, the Navigators won at Windham (17-3) and reigning Class B champion Brunswick (18-8), at home over Portland (19-4), at South Portland in decisive fashion (19-7), then earlier this week at home over Yarmouth (14-9) and Marshwood (10-4).

In the teams’ first meeting, April 29, Falmouth gave Cape Elizabeth as close a game as anyone this spring, but the Capers held on behind a balanced attack, which featured seven different goal scorers.

Entering play Saturday, the Capers had won 30 of 40 all-time meetings against Falmouth (see sidebar, below).

This time around, on a cloudy but comfortable afternoon (62 degrees at the start), with accomplished alumni from both programs on hand, the Navigators sought to beat Cape Elizabeth for the first time since a 14-8 home victory May 4, 2018, but instead, the Capers rose to the occasion again and made it seven straight in the series.

Falmouth senior goalie Drew Noyes made the game’s first big play, denying a shot from Laughlin.

At the other end, Cape Elizabeth junior goalie Michael Foley saved a bid from Boothby, but with 8:31 to go in the first period, Joey Guerrette fought through the defense and scored unassisted to break the ice.

With 6:47 left, Joey Guerrette set up Boothby for a second goal and the Navigators were feeling good.

Laughlin quickly brought them back to Earth a minute later, taking a pass from junior Alex van Huystee and tickling the twine to cut the deficit in half.

The Capers then looked to draw even, but Laughlin missed wide, Goss hit the crossbar and van Huystee had a shot saved by Noyes.

With 2:15 remaining in the opening stanza, Joey Guerrette scored for the second time, spinning through the defense and beating Foley, but 10 seconds later, off a Moon faceoff win, Laughlin raced in and finished and the game went to the second period with Falmouth up by just one, 3-2.

Cape Elizabeth then settled in and took the lead quickly in the second period, as just 19 seconds in, Laughlin set up Lathrop to tie it, then with 10:34 left before halftime, Laughlin found Goss for the goal which put the Capers ahead to stay.

Gio Guerrette had a couple looks at a tying goal, but his first bid went wide and the second was saved by Foley.

With 5:26 on the clock, Goss set up Cochran for his first goal to expand the lead and with 2:35 showing, Goss fought through traffic and finished unassisted to make it 6-3.

The Navigators were able to rediscover their offense late in the half, as after senior Zach Mitton had a shot saved by Foley, Barnard scored on a rebound with 1:57 to go, snapping the Capers’ 5-0 run and a 12 minute, 18 second scoring drought.

Freshman Peter Kearns won the ensuing faceoff and Gio Guerrette capitalized, scoring unassisted and just like that, Falmouth had regained momentum and went to the break down just one goal, 6-5.

Any momentum the Navigators might have had disappeared during the break, as just 54 seconds into the second half, Cochran took a pass from Lathrop, then sent a highlight-reel over-the-shoulder shot past Noyes and into the net to double the lead.

With 9:21 left in the third period, after a turnover, junior Tom Hennessey raced in and scored unassisted to put the Capers ahead by three again.

Falmouth got a goal back, man-up, when freshman Hayden Davis set up Gio Guerrette with 8:44 on the clock, but after Foley denied Gio Guerrette, Laughlin scored unassisted, firing a shot between Noyes’ legs, to make it 9-6, with 6:27 on the clock.

After Boothby hit the post for the home team, Laughlin set up van Huystee for a goal with 2:39 remaining.

Senior Andrew Trachimowicz nearly added a goal off the ensuing faceoff, but he was robbed by Noyes.

After Noyes saved a Laughlin shot, Laughlin had the last laugh with 23.8 seconds on the clock, finishing a feed from Cochran, to make it 11-6 heading for the fourth quarter.

There, the Navigators momentarily made things interesting before Cape Elizabeth ended all doubt.

With 9:19 remaining, Gio Guerrette fought through the defense before beating Foley.

Then, three minutes later, Gio Guerrette set up Joey Guerrette for a goal and Falmouth was within three, 11-8.

With the partisan crowd at a fever pitch, the Navigators hoped to keep the pressure on, but Moon, who excelled in the faceoff circle all day, won possession, raced in alone and with 6:09 to go, scored unassisted to turn the tide for good.

“No one slid to me and there was a big opening,” Moon said. “I ran as fast as I could and shot as hard as I could.”

With 3:58 left, Laughlin scored unassisted.

With 2:45 to go, Cochran got the ball in front to van Huystee, who fired a no-look scoop shot past Noyes and into the net to make it 14-8.

Falmouth got one final goal with 56.8 seconds showing, as Gio Guerrette set up Davis, but 21 seconds later, Cochran scored an unassisted goal to bring the curtain down on the Capers’ 15-9 victory.

“I think what says a lot about a great team is what they’re able to do when they’re down,” senior defensive standout Nate Patterson said. “We didn’t do a lot right early, but we’ve done a good job when we go down throughout the season. We changed some things up and came back. We do things in practice to simulate that. We put things on the line. That gets us ready for a game environment.”

“Coach talked to us at halftime,” said Laughlin. “We know we have the skill, but for us, it’s the mentality. Every play matters and picking up ground balls makes the difference in these close games.”

“We shared the ball really well,” added Raymond. “We had a bunch of different scorers. We had a big difference in ground balls in the third quarter and that’s where we’re at our best. We have moments where we think beyond what’s happening right now, but then we pull it back together and focus on what’s important.”

Laughlin, one of the state’s elite football players (who will play next year at the University of Maine) and a hockey standout in the winter, continued to emerge as a star on the lacrosse field as well with five goals and three assists.

“I never really played (lacrosse) until eighth grade,” Laughlin said. “I’ve worked to get better every year. Sophomore year, I barely touched the field. Last year, I got moved up to D-mid and this year, I’ve contributed to the offense and it’s been fun. They were staying on Keegan and Sam and they just let me go down the middle.”

“I told Nick to play lacrosse forever,” Patterson said. “He’s so athletic.”

“Nick’s obviously an outstanding athlete,” Raymond added. “He sees the game really, really well for someone who only plays three months out of the year. He’s probably our best ground ball guy. He has great vision. There’s nothing he won’t do for his team and teammates and that’s what makes him such a good player and teammate.”

Cochran added three goals, Goss and van Huystee both scored twice and Hennessey, Lathrop and Moon also tickled the twine.

Cochran also had two assists, while Goss, Lathrop and van Huystee each set up one goal.

Foley stopped four shots and was supported, as usual, by a superb defense.

“I think our defense did really well against an offense that has some talented players,” Raymond said.

Moon played a huge role in the victory by winning 18 of 26 faceoff opportunities.

“I have a lot of pride in winning faceoffs,” Moon said. “I just do my job and get the ball to the attackmen. It starts with practice. Every practice, we go 110 percent and work hard. I think that really drives us. We want it every play, every ground ball.”

“You won’t win them all and it’s easy to get down on yourself, but Seb does a great job to keep going and keep winning most of them,” Patterson said.

“Seb’s in on every single faceoff,” added Raymond. “He doesn’t lose them clean. The ones he wins are usually at key moments. He’s gotten really good at making good decisions with the ball and that’s a big help.”

The Capers won the ground ball battle, 38-18 (with Patterson scooping up a game-high 12 and Moon grabbing six), out-shot Falmouth, 39-19 (27-13 on cage) and only turned the ball over 14 times.

“When we don’t have unforced turnovers, we do a good job,” said Raymond.

Another step closer

Falmouth got three goals apiece from Gio Guerrette and Joey Guerrette. Barnard, Boothby and Davis all added one goal.

Gio Guerrette had two assists, while Davis and Joey Guerrette finished with one apiece.

Noyes was solid, making 12 tough saves.

Gio Guerrette had a team-high three ground balls.

The Navigators turned the ball over 20 times.

“(Cape) played well, give it to them, they killed us in the middle of the field,” said Falmouth coach Dave Barton. “Seb was great. Nate was great. We did a decent job on the clamps. Peter battled as a freshman, but it looked like some of the 50-50 balls just aren’t 50-50 balls against Nate. Credit to him.

“We know exactly what we’ll get from them. They’re well coached. They’re a different team from last year, but it’s just as effective. They’re still explosive at times. They understand when they have a stranglehold on a game. Unfortunately, it dipped into our possessions. We’re used to having a certain rhythm and having the ball on our sticks and having control of the game, but we didn’t have that today.”

Four weeks left

Falmouth (ranked second in the Class A state-wide Heal Points standings) is on the road next week, at Westbrook Tuesday and at Cheverus Saturday, then closes at home versus Scarborough May 31.

“We have to finish strong,” Barton said. “We have to focus on ourselves and fundamentals. There’s no secret sauce. When this group clicks, this group’s really good. It’s just a consistency thing.

“All we’re guaranteed is a week-and-a-half left. That’s it. Everything from there is earned. We tried to get round three out of their heads right after the game that we have to earn a round three and there will be some good teams with something to say about that. If this is the group I think it is, I’ll take it over any in the state. We welcome back two pretty strong poles, Cole Allan and Miles Thaxter, in the next week. We’ll be fine.”

Cape Elizabeth (which will be the top seed in Class A for the fourth straight postseason) is back in action Tuesday at home against Scarborough. After a test Friday at South Portland, the Capers close at home versus Greely May 31.

“It’s really easy to get distracted this time of year,” Patterson said. “School’s out. Graduation is coming up. Everybody is doing different things and everybody’s excited to go to college. Right now, we have one goal and we’re focused on that. We’ll keep pushing.”

“We’d like to stay undefeated and win (states) on June 17th,” said Moon. “We’d love to finish off senior year that way.”

“For us, it’s more about peaking when playoffs come,” Laughlin said. “It’s nice to have the one seed locked in now. I think we have what it takes to be a champion. We just have to keep pushing every day.”

“I think the biggest thing we need to do is make sure we focus on every single play,” Raymond added. “Every play is important. You do not know which play will change the game. We don’t need to fix any of our lacrosse stuff, that’s all really good. We just have to fix our mentality. That’s what you have to have in the playoffs.

“I feel like this team is definitely ready to make a run. We have the talent without a doubt. Our seniors are good leaders. Keegan might be the best player around. Michael does a great in goal. Seb wins faceoffs. Our defense is solid. Our offense shares the ball really well. We have what we need lacrosse-wise. If we match that with our mentality, I think we’ll do really well.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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