(April 10, 2015) The Worcester Prep boys’ lacrosse team pulled out a 9-7 win over the James M. Bennett Clippers on Tuesday, and the next day, the Mallards topped St. Maria Goretti 16-8.
The score was tied 2-2 after the first quarter in Salisbury Tuesday. The Mallards netted three shots in the second quarter to go into the break ahead 5-2. After three quarters, the Prep squad held a 6-5 advantage over Bennett.
Freshman Sam Cantello led the Mallards with four goals and two assists. Junior captain Wyatt Richins contributed with three goals and three assists. Tucker Brown, a freshman, tallied one goal and an assist. Sophomore Patrick Petrera, scored one goal and had an assist against his former team.
“We had flashes of brilliance on the offensive end and we had some good stops on defense. We’ve just got to put it together,” said Prep Coach Kevin Gates.
Assistant captain Ross Dickerson, a junior, won 14 of 18 face-offs and scooped up nine ground balls.
Junior goalie Wade Walter, an assistant captain, stopped 20 Bennett shots.
The Goretti Gaels traveled to Berlin on Wednesday to face the Mallards.
“I thought we’d have some chances on offense and we did. We made 16 of them count,” Gates said.
The Prep team scored four unanswered goals before St. Maria Goretti got on the board in the first quarter.
“It started with the first face-off,” Gates said.
Dickerson won the opening face-off and it was capped off with a Cantello goal 49 seconds into the game.
Worcester tacked on six goals in the second quarter to lead 10-4 at halftime. At the end of the third, the Mallards held a 13-5 advantage. Both teams added three goals in the final quarter.
“Our guys, for the most part, played a pretty smart game,” Gates said.
Petrera was Worcester’s top producer with five goals. Cantello chipped in with three goals and three assists. Freshman Brendan Miller logged three goals and an assist. Sophomore Reid Carey tallied two goals and Richins (four assists), Brown (three assists) and junior Noah McVicker scored one goal apiece.
Walter recorded 10 saves.
Dickerson won 22 of 28 face-offs. He picked up 13 ground balls.
“He’s so valuable because he gets us the ball,” Gates said of Dickerson.
Worcester will take a trip to Huntingtown today, Friday, to play the Calverton Cougars at 4:30 p.m.
“We’re not going to do anything fancy,” Gates said. “We need to play well and take it to them.”
