For its part, the Christian Brothers Academy boys lacrosse team unleashed a solid offensive effort in Tuesday night’s game against LaFayette at Henninger’s Sunnycrest Field.
The only problem was that the Lancers, led by highly-touted sophomore Miles Thompson, proved unstoppable on its end, and beat the Brothers in a wild 24-13 affair.
Only once did the Brothers lead — when it won the opening face-off and turned it into Jared DePalma’s goal just 27 seconds into the game.
But LaFayette answered less than a minute later and had a 7-2 lead before the game was nine minutes old. By that point, Thompson already had four goals, and was just getting started.
Somehow, CBA kept pace for the rest of the half despite a long list of penalties called on both sides for the rest of the half. Casey Lasda had a goal and four assists, only to see LaFayette continue to answer, including Thompson twice scoring on behind-the-back shots.
So it went to the break with the Brothers behind 13-8, and the barrage of yellow flags continued into the third period as both teams nearly lost control. Twice, CBA pulled within four, 15-11 and 16-12, and were one or two big plays from really making it close.
Lance Thompson, Miles’ older brothers, would end the drama, though, when he scored twice in a span of five seconds early in the fourth quarter to make it 20-13, as CBA was unable to score in that last period.
By the time he waded through a triple team to convert once more with 4:39 to go, Miles Thompson had accumulated 10 goals, plus an assist. Lyle contributed seven assists as Gehnew Printup and John Greeley helped out with four goals apiece.
Meanwhile, the Brothers had Lasda earn six assists, to go with his pair of goals. DePalma picked up five goals, while David Biegler and Nate Frechette got three goals apiece.
CBA nearly got beat again on Friday afternoon, requiring all of its will and fortitude to fight past the Tully Black Knights 12-11.
Steadily, the Brothers worked its way to a 6-4 halftime lead. Tully refused to go away, though, pulling within one, 8-7, by the end of the period, and exchanging goals through a tense homestretch.
Finally, CBA held on. Lasda and DePalma each notched three-goal hat tricks, with DePalma adding an assist. Biegler, Frechette and Doug Bailey each got two goals as Biegler notched a pair of assists. Each of Nate Wadsworth’s 18 saves proved important as Zach Guy led Tully with four goals and two assists.
The Brothers meet Bishop Ludden on Tuesday and go to Marcellus on Saturday, looking to improve on its 3-2 mark.
