SOUTH PARIS – The ability to execute its motion offense helped pave the way for the Oxford Hills boys’ lacrosse team Saturday morning at Gouin Complex.
The Vikings balanced attack was led by Jesse Strauss, who broke free for five goals, while Thomas Kothe and Craig LaPlante each scored hat tricks in a 13-7 win over Mt. Blue.
It was the first time in four years that Oxford Hills (6-4) had beat the Cougars.
The KVAC match-up featured teams who were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in the latest Heal Points.
“There’s a (strategy) to how our motion offense works,” Oxford Hills coach Cameron Colby said. “We try to get a man behind the net, in the X spot and when he carries the ball out, our three middies are suppose to continue to rotate away from the defenders. This opens up passing lanes and ends with the ball in the net.”
Mt. Blue (4-6) eventually settled down, and pulled to within two goals on three occasions in the third quarter. Evan Xanthos (three goals) and Nate Pickerell each converted early off set plays. Jeff Davis converted a pass from Tom Lowell.
Oxford Hills was able to answer with goals by Strauss and Kothe. The Vikings had 40 shots.
“We were missing a star player and had to make some personnel changes,” Mt. Blue coach Mark Cyr said. “But, I liked what the kids did with some of the things that we had worked on. We need to be able to catch the pass in order to pass it, so if you can’t do that it’s hard to (execute).”
Mt. Blue regained the momentum when Xanthos blasted a shot past Viking goalie Cody Rathbone (nine saves) to make it 8-6. Anthony Barker assisted on the power play, with three-minutes remaining in the third quarter.
It proved to be the Cougars last big push.
LaPlante (two goals, three assists) came right back on a power play as the Vikings scored four unanswered goals.
“We had a couple of uncalled for penalties,”Colby said. “It was a lack of discipline and its some things like that Mt. Blue has usually been able to capitalize on in the past.”
Oxford Hills set the tone by dominating the first quarter with crisp passes that forced the Cougars’ defense to scramble in front of the net. Strauss scored on a pass from Leif Kothe and approximately two minutes later Thomas Kothe converted. Dave LaRoach made the score 3-0, by rifling a over hand shot past Cougar goalie Justin Davis (19 saves).
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