For the first game of the season, it wasn’t a bad effort. From the defending Class B state champs, though, more was expected. More is always expected from the Cape Elizabeth boys lacrosse team.
The Capers beat Waynflete, 14-6, to open the season, but coach Ben Raymond knows there’s room for improvement.
“At the beginning of the game, we moved the ball fairly well,” he said. “We made some good decisions earlier in the game and then made some worse decisions at the end of the game. And penalties hurt us a little bit.
“We definitely shouldn’t be making these kinds of mistakes. We didn’t make any of these mistakes earlier on (in the preseason.)”
The two most glaring gaffes occurred at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters, when first Tyler Loring and then Matt Homet were penalized for having illegal sticks.
The Capers escaped the first of the three-minute infractions without giving up a goal – thanks to the play of keeper Eric Knight. (More on him later.) The second time, however, they weren’t so lucky. Waynflete scored twice during that man-advantage.
“Those are just some bad mistakes,” said Raymond, who is also the head coach at the University of Southern Maine. “Having illegal sticks – there’s no excuse for it. It’s just laziness.”
There’s still time for the Capers to get on the right track. Lots of time, actually.
Raymond is confident.
“They’ll definitely improve a little bit more,” he said. “The more they play together, the more they’re going to get used to the tendencies and make some better decisions. We had some kids on different lines today. Some kids hadn’t played with each other yet, so there’s a lot of adjustments still to be made.”
It wasn’t like the Capers had no chemistry whatsoever. They still managed to build a 5-0 first quarter lead on goals by Loring, Brendan Nicholas, Nate Stevens and a pair from Zach Belden.
“We’ve got some big shoes to fill, but we’re trying to get the job done,” said Stevens, referring to the absence created by the graduation of seniors like Dan Rautenberg.
The Capers added three more goals in the second quarter – Nicholas, Loring and Stevens all scored – while allowing just one.
“(Knight) made some great saves,” said Raymond. “In the second quarter I think he made six saves maybe right in a row. He played very well.
“He definitely will be key for us. He’s worked real hard. He’s getting used to our systems and what we’re asking him to do, and makes good saves.”
Knight transferred back to Cape from Cheverus, where he was a back-up goalie last season. So far, he’s happy with the decision.
“I went to middle school with them. It’s been a pretty warm welcome back,” he said. “Everyone’s happy to have me and I’m happy to have them, so I think we’ll progress through the season.”
The chemistry at the back end of the field is just as essential as it is up front, according to Knight.
“It’s definitely important,” he said. “We have a good bunch of guys back there and they know me well. I can trust them to slide. Definitely, the friendship helps.”
Knight came out of the game at the end of the third quarter, after the Capers had extended the lead to 12-2 – Evan Bagley, Loring and Stevens (two) provided the goals.
The Flyers cut into that lead at the start of the fourth when Homet went off for having an illegal stick. TC Haffenreffer and David Cutler scored on Knight’s replacement, Ryan Hatch, to make it 12-4.
The Flyers never got closer than within seven goals, though, as Jim Wilcox and Tom Rich finished the scoring for Cape.
“They move the ball really well, find the open man,” said Waynflete coach Bob Johnson. “They work one side and then hit the weak side very nicely and run their plays really well. They’re good ballplayers and well coached.”
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