WALES — Caleb Provost and Jon Averill scored four goals each to lift the Oak Hill boys lacrosse team to an impressive 19-2 win over Mt. Blue in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A game Saturday.
After three straight losing seasons, the Raiders are 3-1 this season. Mt. Blue falls to 0-3.
“This is a real big confidence boost for our younger players,” said Oak Hill coach Dan Brannigan, whose team features just three seniors. “We are really working hard because we want to be in the KVAC championship game as soon as we can.”
Oak Hill dominated the middle of the field, keeping the pressure on the Mt. Blue defense throughout the game. The Raiders middies managed to produce a 44-27 advantage on ground balls, giving their attack plenty of opportunities.
Provost and Averill played key roles in the first quarter when Oak Hill took 20 shots and scored eight times to take an 8-1 lead. Provost finished the quarter with two goals and two assists while Averill had a pair of goals.
“Offensively we have been passing the ball better and getting more open looks,” Provost said. “We are really playing well as a team and we are starting to trust each other more on the field.”
A pair of Oak Hill midfield lines displayed quickness and an ability to quickly move the ball into the attacking end. Kyle Flaherty, Eric Lapointe and Cody Rolston play together on the first line, while Trever Samson, Alex Mace and Richard Fillion comprised the second line.
“Our midfield did a nice job keeping the ball in the attacking end,” Brannigan said. “They keep getting better.”
Mt. Blue managed just one shot in the first quarter but it was right on target. Matt Smith whipped a shot into the net from 10 yards with 3:23 remaining in the quarter.
“As the game progressed we started to settle down,” Mt. Blue coach John McDonough said. “We need to increase our time of possession. We are such a young team. It is a work in progress.”
Oak Hill continued to attack, holding a 14-3 advantage in shots in the second quarter and taking a 12-2 halftime lead. Five different Oak Hill players — Rolston, Brian Daniels, Averill, Bayley Beaulieu and Brandon Potvin — scored in the second quarter.
Oak Hill goalie Matty Martin had one save, while Mt. Blue goalie John Andrews had 11.
Cam Henkel scored Mt. Blue’s second goal in the second quarter. Seven different plays scored in the second half for Oak Hill.
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