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Mariner lacrosse battles past Beacon 10-8 for undefeated season

Seventy players over two rosters and loads of talent
May 18, 2017

A lacrosse doubleheader at Legends Stadium Monday afternoon had Mariner versus Beacon as the undercard followed by Cape hosting Worcester Prep.

A good-sized crowd was into the middle school game, as Mariner was driving toward an unbeaten season, and fittingly, the road would roll through sister school Beacon.

Mariner jumped out 4-1, but in the second half the score was tied at 5. Then Beacon went up one, 6-5, and it was game on.

Mariner scored three in a row to grab an 8-6 lead at the end of three periods, but Beacon bounced back to score two, tying the game at 8 as only minutes remained. Fans were getting their money’s worth and admission was free.

Beacon, which had lost consecutive games to power programs Sts. Peter and Paul, and St. Edmond’s had possession and appeared poised for a dramatic upset, but an unforced error gave the ball to Mariner who scored quickly to take a 9-8 lead. Another Beacon possession and turnover were followed by the final Mariner goal and a final of 10-8.

Mariner woke up at money time and closed out the dream season 10-0, while a vastly improved Beacon squad fell to 5-4.

Mariner, coached by Tom Pickard and Kyle Orton, had 35 players on the roster including 15 eighth-graders.

Beacon, coached by Joey Vavala, James Affeldt and Corey Mahoney, had a roster of 38 including 11 eighth-graders.    

‘“All these talented kids, over 25 moving on to high school to play lacrosse, that’s what this game showcases,” said Beacon coach Joe Vavala.

Mariner Principal Fred Best, who coaches Atlantic Lacrosse, said,”Our U15 Atlantic Team is a blend of Mariner and Beacon players, but the middle school programs have uncovered talent not a part of the Atlantic program.”

The irregular crowd shuffled out quickly after the middle school game; no doubt some will return next season when their kids are part of the Cape high school program.  

Note: There are no roster numbers and no game stats available after middle school games, so the usual individual hype is not part of this story.  

 

 

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