KENNEBUNK — The Massabesic boys lacrosse team traveled to Kennebunk on Monday evening and took control early with five goals in the opening quarter.

It didn’t look good for the host Rams as they trailed by five after the first 12 minutes, but Kennebunk coach Chris Gassman had a simple message for his squad.

“It’s still early, we’re not out of it. There’s still a long way to go and we’ve just got to step up and play our game,” Gassman told the Rams.

The Rams certainly proved their coach right as they outscored the Mustangs 7-1 down the stretch to secure a 7-6 victory.

Massabesic jumped out to the big lead thanks to two goals from both Garrett Stubbs and Jake Travis and another score from Max Irons to make it 5-0 after the opening period.

“That was a little scary … but we just had to settle in a little bit,” said Kennebunk junior Dante DeLorenzo. “We’re a second half team. We have some young kids so we just had to get the jitters out and we started playing how we can play lacrosse.”

Kennebunk started the chip away at the Massabesic lead in the second. Chase Lamontagne, Cam Lovejoy and DeLorenzo all found the back of the cage to cut it to 5-3 at the half.

Travis broke the scoring drought for Massabesic with a goal at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter to give the Mustangs a 6-3 lead. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, that would be the last time they beat Kennebunk goalie Cole Dickinson.

DeLorenzo slashed the Massabesic advantage to 6-4 with a goal just over a minute later. The Rams’ rally continued when Tripp Bush scored with 2:49 remaining in the third to make it a 6-5 game.

The Rams finally got the game back to even when Jake Sullivan scored with 8:15 left in regulation to make it 6-6.

DeLorenzo, who was clearly the one player Massabesic wanted to shut down, would put the Rams in front for the first time when he fired a shot into the cage with 4:55 remaining.

Gassman was confident DeLorenzo would step up to the challenge from Massabesic.

“It was great. We didn’t have to do much (to motivate him). He provoked it within himself, so that just added fuel to his fire,” said Gassman.

DeLorenzo was happy to get going on offense after the rough start.

“We started moving. We weren’t really moving on offense,” DeLorenzo said. “We started moving and that just opens up opportunities. A couple goals lights a little fire under you, and (we) just took that and ran with it.”

Massabesic had several chances to tie the game in the final three minutes but Dickinson would step up and preserve the win. 

“Cole did a great job … after we scored that seventh goal they came down and had a nice shot, but he made a great save. He’s been a rock this whole year. He’s been playing great,” said DeLorenzo on the Rams’ senior goalie.

Massabesic coach Steve Gallo was happy with his team’s start, but frustrated with the lack of execution down the stretch.

“The things we hoped that would go right the entire game — passing, catching, teamwork, intensity, communication — all the good stuff that we talk about all season,” said Gallo on what worked in the opening quarter. “That’s why we ultimately lost because we started losing those things. We got a little flustered and a little rattled, and obviously you saw the result.”

NOTES: It was the first win of the season for the Rams, who started the year with losses to Falmouth and Gorham. Kennebunk (1-2) will host Yarmouth on Friday … Massabesic drops to 1-1 on the season. The Mustangs will travel to Noble on Wednesday … Lovejoy had two assists and Lamontagne, Sullivan and Wenter Dugovic also had assists for Kennebunk.

— 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.