Lewis scores five goals in win over Woodstown after team falls to Mainland, Washington Twp.
ERMA — The young Caper Tiger boys lacrosse team got shellacked 18-1 in their season opener against Mainland Regional High School and didn’t fare much better against Washington Township, losing 13-1.
That was against the Mustangs, expected to be one of the stronger Cape-Atlantic League lacrosse teams this season and Washington Township, that also beat Middle Township 17-1 and Pennsbury (Pa.) 12-9 so far this season.
The boys matched up better April 1, downing Woodstown High School 17-8 as Cole Lewis contributed five goals and three assists.
Three other Lower Cape May Regional High School players picked up some points as well. Cooper Turner had five points courtesy of three goals and two assists and Jaxon Turner and Jacob Collins had four points apiece. Both had three goals and an assist.
Brandon Frame, Evan Ridgway and Alexander Nelson each had a goal and Kyle Young, Vincent Grasso and Ty Bonner each recorded an assist in the Woodstown game. Bonner made 11 saves.
The goaltender was put to the test against Mainland. Although he allowed 18 goals, he also made 25 saves and scored the lone goal.
Versus Mainland
After an offseason of roster changes for both teams, Mainland’s offense was in control from the start and rode an early lead into the 18-1 win March 27. Junior Jack Gregory announced his return to the Mustangs in a big way with three goals in the first quarter after missing most of last season due to a broken ankle. Gregory finished the game with five goals and trailed in points only Ryan Scannell, who scored three times but dished out four assists. Scannell had 50 points last season as a freshman and is off to a great start to replicate and surpass his first season.
Mainland blitzed Lower in the first quarter with a quick 6-0 lead before the first frame was over. The young Caper Tiger team took that first punch and stabilized before halftime.
Lower was stuck in their defensive end for most of the game but got its first goal of the season from an unlikely defensive player. One of only a few seniors on the team, Bonner put the Caper Tigers on the board to start the second quarter. In his third season as Lower Cape May Regional High School’s full-time goalie, Bonner had scored only once before but against Mainland he managed to get on offense safely and get a shot off.
Bonner and the defense held Mainland to a one-goal quarter and stayed in the game despite the slow start.
The longtime goalie is one of a couple of upperclassmen who remain on the team after a large senior class moved on last spring. Bonner may have scored against Mainland but one of the main players leading the offense is senior Jaxon Turner.
Alongside Turner is Lewis, who had an excellent freshman season with 26 goals and can lead the newer Caper Tigers by example on the offensive end.
Both the Caper Tigers and Mustangs entered the season looking to fill in some big shoes left behind, with Lower on the search for a new face-off special Zac Castellano took most of Lower’s face-offs for four straight seasons and had a win rate of 67 percent over the last two years.
Against Mainland, Kevin Boyle and Gavin Bronson shared Castellano’s former duties. Both players will be learning through experience.
After it was shut down before halftime, Mainland got back into rhythm and put the game out of reach for the Caper Tigers in the second half.
Returning players Joe Eyde and Liam Kennedy followed closely behind Gregory and Scannell on offense as they all try to fill in the huge hole Harrison LaMonaca left after he graduated. LaMonaca spent all four of his seasons near the top of the stat sheet and will require the entire offense to step up to make up for his production.
Four different Mustangs scored two or more goals, which is the ideal formula coach Luc Swedlund has in mind for the team this season.
The Caper Tiger boys were scheduled to be back in action Tuesday, hosting Ocean City, the defending CAL champion. The Red Raiders were 1-2 entering the game, having lost 9-8 in overtime Saturday against visiting Ridge after losing to Summit 14-3. Ocean City beat Eastern 16-5 to start the season.
The LCMR team was scheduled at 4 p.m. Thursday at Clearview and will be back home at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, hosting Caesar Rodney High School form Camden, Del.
– STORY by WILLIAM TRUITT and DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave and Ocean City Sentinel
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Cape May Star and Wave and Ocean City Sentinel staff
