Central Comes Back to Edge McCann Tech

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Springfield Central boys lacrosse team got standout goalkeeping and scored three straight goals late to earn a 4-3 win over McCann Tech on Thursday afternoon.

 

Vernon Charles and John Rhesto combined for 12 saves, and Rhesto made seven in the fourth quarter alone, when the Golden Eagles tied the game and won it after trailing all afternoon.

 

The comeback began with one of two Cahni Dyer goals in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

 

Dyer scored again to tie it early in the fourth before Adam Gomez scored the game-winner with 7 minutes, 17 seconds remaining.

 

But the story was Rhesto, who came up big on a number of hard shots through traffic in the fourth quarter to hold the Hornets scoreless over the last 21 minutes of the game.

 

“They had two goalies today, and both of them did a very good job,” McCann Tech coach Paul Lange said. “I don’t know how many shots we had on goal in that fourth quarter. We probably had 10 at least, and he made 10 saves, probably, in that quarter. … So hats off to them.

 

“Their team wanted it more than our team at the end there. I think our team put in a great effort. They left it all out in the field. They just wanted it a little bit more than we did.”

 

After a quick start by McCann Tech (0-5), neither team could get its offense in gear until late in the second half.

 

Central took the game’s first shot on goal about 20 seconds in, but Lucas Loynes turned it aside for the first of his four saves.

 

Then, 20 seconds later at the other end, the Hornets’ Marquese Moody finished with a bounce shot to make it 1-0.

 

About three minutes into the game, Gavin McGrath put the ball in the net to put McCann Tech up, 2-0.

 

Central got on the board with a man-up goal late in the first quarter, but with 2:43 to go until half-time, the Hornets again took a two-goal lead when Ryder Catalano converted an assist from Hayden Bona to make it 3-1.

 

That is where it stood until Dyer scored his first goal in the closing seconds of the third setting the stage for the Golden Eagles to complete the comeback in the final quarter.

 

Throughout the game, McCann Tech struggled to maintain possessions or transition through the middle of the field. Ground balls and passing and catching are areas of focus for the young Hornet squad, Lange said.

 

“These guys have come a long way,” he said. “Most of them have never picked up a stick before this year. I can’t complain about any skill level or anything like that. … It takes years to develop these things.

 

“We said that to the team after we played Grelock. We were a little bummed, and I’m like, ‘Guys most of you have only been playing for three weeks. Those kids have been playing for three to five years. There’s a huge difference.”

 

McCann Tech Tuesday goes to Smith Vocational.

 

Photos from this game to come.