(May 15, 2015) The Stephen Decatur and Kent Island boys’ lacrosse teams met for the third time this season on Monday in the 3A-2A East Region Section I finals in Stevensville. The Kent Island Buccaneers won the final match-up 12-6.
Decatur senior Jackson Mumford put his team on the board, but Kent Island answered on the next possession.
Senior Jake Lathroum scored off a senior captain Corey Gwin pass to give the Seahawks a 2-1 lead. The Buccaneers tied it shortly after.
Lathroum assisted senior Shane Moore’s goal and Kent Island tallied one more to end the first quarter even, 3-3.
Goals were traded in the second quarter. The home team went ahead 4-3, but Decatur defender, senior Craig Snyder, capitalized on his opportunity.
Kent Island, the top-seeded team in Section I of the 3A-2A East Regional bracket, scored again followed by a Gwin goal, and at halftime, the game was tied 5-5.
“Both teams were a little sloppy in the first half,” Decatur Coach Scott Lathroum said. “After a very long bus ride, I thought they fought tooth and nail in the first half.”
The Seahawks, the No. 2 seed in Section I, struggled in the third quarter as the Buccaneers, the defending 3A-2A state champs, tallied four goals to gain a 9-5 advantage. They tacked on three in the fourth. Decatur’s only second-half goal was scored by Moore in the fourth quarter.
“We couldn’t get into the offensive end. Our clearing game was a problem in the second half,” Lathroum said. “We made some mistakes in the third quarter. You can’t make mistakes against a good team.”
Senior goalie, captain Will Hastings, was tested, but he stopped 17 Kent Island shots.
Decatur advanced to the sectional finals after a 14-6 victory over the No. 3 James M. Bennett Clippers last Friday in Berlin.
Gwin lead the team with four goals. Lathroum and sophomore Steve Alther netted three goals apiece. Junior Dryden Brous scored twice and Mumford had one.
Hastings stopped six Bennett shots.
Decatur finished the season 11-4.
“I was happy with the season. You always want to beat that one team and we haven’t been able to,” Lathroum said. “I thought we played well this season. We won the games we should have.”
Fifteen seniors will graduate at the end of the month.
“I told them after the [Kent Island] game that I couldn’t be prouder of everyone,” Lathroum said.
Several players have been on the Decatur varsity teams since they were freshmen, while a few others have competed since their sophomore year.
The senior group is very special to Lathroum. He has coached the boys since they were young and many of them grew up playing lacrosse together on club and travel ball teams.
“I’ve known them for such a long time. They’re all important to me,” Lathroum said. “I’ve watched them mature from when they were young. I’m fortunate to be able to do that. I’m lucky to have coached them.”
Because he is losing 15 seniors to graduation, Lathroum said 2016 will be a “rebuilding year.”
“We’ll take the new group and see what we can do,” he said.
