A battery of Gorham Rams looked sharp in the team’s first bout of the year, including Abraham Eaton, Cam Wright and Tristan Brunet, each of whom piled several goals on the Bonny Eagle Scots Thursday afternoon for a 22-2 final.
“We played a decent game,” said Gorham head coach Dan Soule, “given our first opportunity to be on the field. As far as execution, we did a nice job offensively; defensively, put a lot of pressure on the hands, which is what we were looking for.”
The Rams start the year 1-0 with the win; Bonny Eagle, meanwhile, slips to 0-1.
As the lopsided score indicates, Gorham dominated the attack for much of the game. The team needed a few minutes to shake off the cobwebs, but by the end of the first quarter alone had gone up 6-0.
Bonny Eagle came on strong in the second, though; at least, they quickly managed to establish an offensive perimeter in the Rams’ zone and work the ball around for a few stabs at the net. They couldn’t power one past Gorham keeper Carter Landry, however – not yet.
The Rams pounded the Scots further in the second, adding nine more for 15-0 score at the break.
“On the faceoff, we did a very nice job of winning,” said Soule. “I’m not sure what the percentage was, but we had a very high percentage of wins on the faceoff, which obviously creates offense for us.”
Bonny Eagle got on the board to start the third: Zack Gryskwicz gave the team their first point of the day after hovering for a stretch in the right corner of the Rams’ zone, patiently dodging back and forth before eventually curling through heavy traffic for the shot. 15-1.
“On positioning and our angles, we had a bit of a mental lapse,” said Soule of those times Bonny Eagle seemed to find its groove. “There were some mental lapses, which has to change. We have to play four quarters, 48 minutes and not stop until that clock stops.”
The Scots’ Steven Estes would give his team a second point, midway through the fourth, but the Rams had, by then, amassed 19 of their own. They added three more before the buzzer for the 22-2 final.
“We did a nice job on the transition, finishing the attack,” said Soule. “Overall, we’re very balanced; the team’s buying into the team concept, that there’s not just one player. So all the players are going to have to put in a solid effort and do their job for us to be successful.”
Cam Wright hashed six goals and two assists for the Rams; Abraham Eaton added five goals and one assist. Tristan Brunet had five goals and two assists, and Mike Susi had two goals but six assists (Susi gets the day’s playmaker award); Brett Stiles and Alex York had one goal apiece and York an assist as well. Joey Gallant had two assists. Landry saved 12 of 13 shots.
“We’re still looking to improve, to play four quarters of lacrosse, to deal with more adversity, which is going to come,” said Soule. “But overall, very happy with the effort, very happy with how we improved over the course of the game, and very happy with this team so far.
“We’re young, and looking to get better each day.”
Gorham hosted Marshwood on Tuesday the 28th, and travels to Cheverus on May 1 for a 4:30 p.m. battle. Bonny Eagle traveled to Windham on Wednesday the 29th, after Current’s print deadlines, and will venture to Massabesic on the 1st.
Gorham’s Brett Stiles (far right) launches a successful shot on Bonny Eagle keeper Baker Riddell (far left).
Bonny Eagle’s Zack Gryskwicz stays one step ahead of Gorham pursuer Matt Anderson.
Gorham’s Mike Susi had two goals and six assists in the Rams’ battering of Bonny Eagle on Thursday.
Gorham’s Cam Wright blasts a shot toward Scots keeper Baker Riddell.
Gorham goalie Carter Landry chases down a high shot at Bonny Eagle last Thursday.
The Scots’ Kyle Whitman attempts to shake off a persistent Tristan Brunet in the Rams win at Bonny Eagle last Thursday.
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