SOUTH YARMOUTH – Looking to assert its dominance on Atlantic Coast League teams this side of the canal, the Sandwich boys’ lacrosse team hit the ground running in Tuesday’s match with Dennis-Yarmouth, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead on their way to a 13-8 victory over the Dolphins.
Sandwich High School’s Zack Gorrasi netted six goals and added an assist Tuesday afternoon to lead the Blue Knights to a 13-8 win over the host D-Y Dolphins.
Phil Garceau photo for Capecod.com Sports
At the eye of that Sandwich hurricane was senior midfielder Zack Gorrasi, who scored three goals in the opening five minutes, and finished with six goals in the game to go along with a solo assist.
“We really wanted to put the pedal down right away because that was our problem last game and I think that really worked for us,” Gorrasi said.
Nick Buttafuoco and Alec Henderson each added hat tricks to the final Blue Knights’ tally, with Buttafuoco tacking on an impressive six assists for a team-leading nine points on the day. Brian Wahle added the final marker for the Knights.
With half of their league schedule in the rearview mirror, Sandwich (7-3, 3-1 ACL) is now in sole possession of second place behind undefeated Marshfield, pocketing wins over Nauset, Falmouth and now, Dennis-Yarmouth.
Dennis-Yarmouth fell to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in league play.
“It’s nice to be undefeated on Cape, but there is a second half of the schedule to play,” Sandwich coach Mike McNeill said. “I’m happy where we are, and I’m happy with a 7-3 record but these guys played well and we got that jump early.”
James Buttafucco and Alec Henderson scored in the opening minute of the game, as Gorrasi and the Sandwich offense benefitted greatly from Owen Caggianio’s five faceoff wins to open up the game.
“A lot of it was fast break opportunities, I think only one of those that they ripped off was off a settled situation and face-offs really hurt us today,” Dolphin coach JoJo Jamiel said. “Multiple times they were able to win a clean draw and start with a fast break.”
“I wish I could blame it on ‘we weren’t ready’ or ‘we were asleep’, but our guys were fired up for this game. We had a few days off and have been looking at this one for a while.”
Sandwich High’s Andrew Galanek scoops a groundball.
Phil Garceau photo for Capecod.com Sports
Trailing by five, the Dolphins did not, however, back down as junior Andrew Jamiel scored all three of his goals in the first half, while D-Y won both the second and third quarters to cut the deficit down to two.
Jason Finn and Tom Slovak scored 49 seconds apart midway through the third quarter cutting the Blue Knight lead down to 8-6.
One of the biggest factors behind that Dolphins surge was the stellar play of Dolphin goalie Sean McNamara in the third quarter, who came up with numerous big saves to keep the game within reach.
Sandwich however dashed the Dolphin hopes of a comeback, scoring the next three goals, twice from Buttafucco to reopen its five-goal lead early in the fourth quarter.
“That lull in the second quarter, I think we thought they would roll over and give it to us,” Sandwich coach Mike McNeill said. “But they are well coached and disciplined team and that was bit of an eye opener for us.”
After the game, McNeill – who has never lost to D-Y in the programs history – noted how impressed he was with the young Dolphins team. “(I) think it’s great for Cape Cod lacrosse,” McNeill said.
“They are a developing programing and are beginning to hit stride. They are building that tradition and we talk about that situation here at Sandwich and they are building that. Winning is contagious.”
Earlier this season, the Dolphins knocked off Falmouth for the first time in the young program’s history and entered Tuesday’s match tied with Sandwich for second place in the league.
Lacrosse Teams to Raise Money to Help Battle Cystic Fibrosis
The Blue Knights have three days off to prepare for rival Barnstable on Saturday (May 2), when Sandwich High School will be hosting an awareness event for cystic fibrosis.
There is no cost to attend the event.
The Sandwich High School department of athletics, the Sandwich High School boys and girls lacrosse programs, and Sandwich Youth Lacrosse, will be hosting the 4th Annual Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Day on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Sandwich Youth Lacrosse games will be played at DeConto Stadium and on the Field Hockey/Lacrosse Field at Sandwich High School from 12n-3pm. Starting at 3:30pm, the following games will be played:
- Boys JV Lacrosse vs. Barnstable at 3:30pm (Field Hockey/Lacrosse Field)
- Girls JV Lacrosse vs. Barnstable at 3:30pm (DeConto Stadium)
- Girls Varsity Lacrosse vs. Barnstable at 5pm (DeConto Stadium)
- Boys Varsity Lacrosse vs. Barnstable at 7pm (DeConto Stadium)
Again, admission is free to all games, though donations will be collected and a 50/50 Raffle will be conducted. All proceeds will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
— Story by Phil Garceau, Capecod.com contributing sportswriter. Story edited by Capecod.com Sports Editor Sean Walsh
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
