PARIS — Gardiner attackers scored early and often in the Tigers’ 13-2 victory over Oxford Hills in a boys lacrosse season opener for both teams Friday at Gouin Athletic Complex.
Junior Cody Dingwell and freshmen Brayden Elliott and Logan Cote each had a hat trick in the victory.
It’s so much fun getting to play with the new guys,” Dingwell said. “…It makes me feel more like a leader, introduce them to playing attack and varsity lacrosse.”
Oxford Hills coach Hunter Rowell said the defense did its best in trying to limit Gardiner’s offense, but the Tigers outshot the Vikings 39-9.
“The MVPs of today were our defense,” Rowell said. “They played their hearts out, and we couldn’t capitalize on our possession. So, we played defense 80 percent of the game.”
Dingwell opened the scoring 7:15 into the first quarter after the Tigers dominated possession for the first half of the period.
Jack Bressette found attacker Derrick Brooks, who tied the game up for the Vikings 11:42 into the first quarter.
Gardiner started capitalizing on its chances in the second quarter. Cote scored nearly four minutes in.
Cole Brann scored a man-up goal 4:22 into the second for a 3-1 advantage.
The Tigers later scored four goals in a three-minute span. Elliott scored twice while Dingwell and Cote also scored for a 7-1 lead.
Dingwell said it was important for Cote and Elliott to get going in the opening half.
“Giving them feeds around the crease so they get their goals gives them confidence — coming in as freshmen,” Dingwell said. “It’s something new for them, so if you get them goals, it gets them ready for the rest of the season.”
Rowell said he tried to keep his team calm during the scoring barrage.
“We were trying to maintain composure and play with our hearts out there,” Rowell said. “We were trying to play our own game and dictate the pace of play, but again, it was a hard one today.”
Kole Johnson capped the second quarter by giving Gardiner an 8-1 advantage. Gardiner scored five man-up goals in the period.
“Just this past week, pretty much,” Gardiner coach KC Johnson said of working on man-up situations. “We had pretty much everybody rolling through it and now we are pretty much doing man-up with our core crew. We have some kids on vacation, we have some kids out with eligibility, but we are able to plug and play with some new guys.”
Brann and Cote opened the scoring in the third quarter for a 10-1 lead. Owen Chadwick scored the third and final goal of the third 9:47 into the period.
Johnson wanted the Tigers to work on a few things in the second half.
“Play faster, move the ball, move quick, communicate with each other, work on ground balls, and play fearless,” Johnson said.
Brooks stopped Gardiner’s run early in the fourth quarter, recording Oxford Hills’ second goal.
“We have a great offense in general; we had a couple of bright spots there,” Rowell said. “Again, it didn’t go our way today.”
Elliott notched his third of the game 4:30 into the fourth for a 12-2 lead and Dingwell scored in the final seconds of the game.
Dingwell said the key to his success is keeping his legs moving.
“A lot of it was moving off the ball and using my speed and getting space, then finishing around the crease,” Dingwell said.
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