If a team was going to begin overlooking opponents, the Brunswick High School boys lacrosse team might have been it.
Figure, the Dragons downed powerhouse Cape Elizabeth in overtime at Bowdoin College on May 16 to remain undefeated, so everyone else on the regular season slate was likely going to be easy pickings.
“They’re good with that,” said Glover of his Dragons once returning to practice after the win over the Capers. “We preached it a little bit, but they took it to heart that it is one game at a time. The Cape win was great. They were on top of the world, but the next game you can be on the other side of it. Reality. … We had to get back to basics and work for that next game.”
For Mt. Ararat, its record fell to 4-6 with a tough test with Messalonskee at home on Senior Night set for this upcoming Friday at 6:30 p.m. Eagles coach Matt Haskell felt his team struggled in attacking the Brunswick defense while also finding things difficult when the Dragons attacked in transition.
“We wanted to attack the cage, and we didn’t do a very good job,” said Haskell. “Give it to Brunswick and their offensive transition. You have to change your angle quickly in transition defense, and they are just quicker than us.”
Even start
Mt. Ararat midfielder Elliot Pressman beat Brunswick face-off special- ist Ian Schlosser to gain the game’s opening possession. The Eagles worked the ball around for over 90 seconds, but a turnover allowed Brunswick to set up its offense.
Eagles goaltender Charlie Gill, who had 13 saves, turned aside Brunswick’s Matt Brooks and Mt. Ararat grabbed the ground ball. But, Dragon Kyle Woodruff caused a turnover, scooped up the bouncing ball and slipped a shot past Gill for a 1-0 Brunswick lead.
“The composure piece has been an element that we have been very happy with,” said Glover after watching his team take the lead. “They won the faceoff. That is OK. We just stayed composed, worked the issue and played our game and our system.”
Brunswick pressed for more, with TJ Sullivan and Cam Glover each hitting the post, while Gill made two more stops to keep it a one-goal game. Moments later, the Dragons made it 2-0 as Sullivan scored off a nice pass from Owen Ginty. Cam Glover (assisted by Josh Dorr), Ginty (Ryan Croatti) and Brooks scored 2:10 apart for a 5-0 lead for the visitors after a quarter.
After Cam Glover’s second from Brooks made it 6-0 early in the second quarter, Mt. Ararat pushed back. Ben Bishop finished off a pass from Kyle Lussier to get the Eagles on the board, and Pressman, from Lussier, answered a goal by Croatti, from Sullivan, to get Mt. Ararat to 7-2 with 3:39 left until halftime.
“We have the guys out there that can do it. We just have to get to that next level,” said Haskell. “We just need to stick to our game plan and play 48 minutes.
Brunswick made one more push before the break. Croatti, Sullivan and Christian Glover hooked up in a tic-tactoe connection, with Croatti making it 8-2, and goals by Woodruff (Sullivan) and Tyler Hills (with one tick left on the clock) gave the Dragons a 10-2 halftime lead.
“The guys were just sliding off of me and I was open,” said Sullivan, who finished with three goals and three assists. “It is always a fun game against them. We just had to settle down and play the way that we play. We wanted to work hard and stick to the system. Just do what we always do and it will all work out.”
“There is always that element, regardless of record. They’re our natural rivalry and the records are 0-0 when we play,” said coach Glover of the rivalry with Mt. Ararat. “Matt is a good coach, and they are working their system. They always work hard.”
Brunswick outscored Mt. Ararat 4-1 in the third for a 14-3 advantage, with the Eagles finishing strong in the fourth, with a goal each coming from Nick Canter and Jake Schoenberg. Kellen Radulski had a goal and an assist for Mt. Ararat.
The Dragons’ next game is also against Messalonskee, which visits Brunswick on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Brunswick concludes the regular season on June 2 at home against Morse.
Brunswick 15,
Mt. Ararat 5
Friday at Topsham
Brunswick—5541—15
Mt.Ararat—0212— 5
Goals — (B) Kyle Woodruff 2, TJ
Sullivan 3, Owen Ginty, Cam Glover 2,
Ryan Croatti 2, Matt Brooks 2, Tyler
Hillis, Jameson Cyr 2; (MtA) Ben
Bishop, Elliot Pressman, Kellen
Radulski, Nick Canter, Jake Schoenberg. Assists — (B) Owen Ginty, Josh Dorr
2, Ryan Croatti 2, Matt Brooks, TJ
Sullivan 3, Christian Glover, Eric
Kousky, Colby Bate; (MtA) Kyle
Lussier 2, Kellen Radulski, Nick Canter. Shots — Brunswick 38, Mt. Ararat
22.
Saves — (B) Mitchell Smith 2, Logan
Ouellette 1; (MtA) Charlie Gill 13.
Face-offs — Brunswick 12, Mt.
Ararat 11.
Records — Brunswick 10-0, Mt.
Ararat 4-6.
Up next for the Dragons — Wednesday at home against Messalonskee,
6:30 p.m.
Up next for the Eagles — Friday at
home against Messalonskee, 6:30
p.m.
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