NORTH EAST — Tome used 13 goals in the first half to grow a nine-goal lead over North East by the halftime break. The high-scoring half was enough for the Titans to maintain its lead and pick up an 18-8 victory on Thursday evening.
Tome attackmen Spencer Cain and Will Loller combined for nine goals in the first quarter, which saw the Titans put up a 10-spot on the scoreboard. Tome found the back of the cage three more times in the second quarter, including two more scores from Loller, plus a score from Louis Magilton to hold a 13-4 lead at the half.
“We knew the start was going to be important, we could walk to each other’s schools and back so we knew nobody was going to give up,” Tome head coach Dave Cain said. “Lacrosse is a game of runs, let’s have ours first and then let’s have ours last. We wanted to get out to a quick lead, let them respond and then close the game strong.”
Spencer Cain finished the night with a team-high nine goals, while Loller finished with five goals. The pair of Titans attackmen provide different styles of play in the offensive zone. Loller showcases his speed with the ability to maneuver between defenders. Cain possesses the ability to beat defenders with finesse and can use his size to power through defensemen.
Spencer Cain said he and Loller benefit from a draw and dump style of play, that forces defenders to make a decision on defending a ball-carrier or a flanking attackman. If the defender decides to guard the player with possession, the ball-carrier can dump the ball off to the open man for a look at the cage.
“You draw one or two, maybe even three guys and just move [the ball],” Spencer Cain said. “Then you have a guy open on the other side.”
Following the halftime break, North East cut the Tome advantage down to eight at the 8:21-mark of the third quarter with a goal from Will Bretigan. It was Bretigan’s second goal of the quarter. Cain added three more scores in the last eight minutes of the third to extend the Titans’ lead back to double digits. Bretigan and Sam Swartout each finished with three goals for the Indians.
“We knew they would come out hot off halftime and they would make a little bit of a run,” Loller said. “So it was nice to have that cushion.”
North East will visit Bohemia Manor to conclude its regular season on Tuesday. Tome finishes the season with three games next week, before the Mid-Atlantic Independent League playoffs start up in early May. Coming off an MIL lacrosse title last spring, Tome’s head coach said the thought of repeating has not crossed his team’s mind. The Titans are focused on taking things one game at a time.
“We have not talked at all about another title. It’s a whole new team with a whole new group of guys,” Dave Cain said. “So it’s let’s be the best version of us right now and if our best version can win it, great, but let’s win today rather than talk about winning something at the end of May.”
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