PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- The McCann Tech boys lacrosse team had five times more wins in its second year of varsity play.

 

But the improvement went much deeper than that.

 

“This team this year really bonded together,” McCann Tech senior Dakota Bolte said after Wednesday’s 10-7, season-ending win over Taconic at Berkshire Community College. “We were more structured, we were more focused. We didn't let the losses get to us or our deficits. We stuck together.

“I think for all the underclassmen this year, they saw the effort we put in, and it will carry over to next year.”

 

If the Hornets continue on their current trajectory, next year could be a big one on Hodges Cross Road.

 

McCann Tech, which won just once in 2016 and lost twice to Taconic, won five games this spring: 16-15 in North Adams back in April and Wednesday’s three-goal win.

 

“Last year … was a real eye-opener to me,” Bolte said. “It showed me the attitude and the effort you have to put into this sport. This is isn't something anyone can just pick up and play. You've really got to practice to get where you want to go.

 

“Second year, I wouldn't expect to be where I was today without practice.”

 

McCann Tech (5-14) got four goals and an assist from Jason Delisle and three goals from Justin Meczywor.

 

The Hornets built a 4-0 lead early in the second quarter when Zavier Martin-Levesque scored an unassisted goal.

 

But Taconic (2-12) stormed back, rallying to tie the game midway through the third quarter when Sal Amaral (three goals, one assist) scored on an assist from Tim Carroll to make it 4-4.

 

Taconic coach Tom Harris was not surprised to see his squad battle back from the four-goal deficit.

 

“They're spirited guys,” Harris said. “They want to win. It's a growing program. We're struggling on some things. Some things we do really well. But they didn't fold their tents. They didn't fold their tents in the last 30 seconds of the game.

 

“That's one thing they never do.”

 

McCann Tech answered with three straight goals to regain control of the game.

 

Meczywor scored on an assist from Delisle to give the Hornets the lead for good just 11 seconds after Taconic tied it, and Deslisle scored two goals 3 minutes, 30 seconds apart to push the lead to 7-4.

 

It got as high as five goals midway through the fourth quarter when Darius Tovani scored his second of the game to make it 10-5, but Taconic scored twice in the final five minutes to get within three, and a Bolte interception in the back helped kill off a Taconic man-up advantage that began with 1:41 left to play.

 

“It was definitely nice for these guys to finish on a win, especially the seniors, Brian [Boudreau], Dakota [Bolte] and Josh [Pettit],” McCann Tech coach Paul Lange said. “Brian and Dakota have worked so hard the last two years with this team.

 

“It's sad to see them go, of course, because they're a huge part, but it's great for them to go out on a win like that. Most of them come back. We have a ton of youth coming back. The future is looking good.”