WATERVILLE– Messalonskee scored two goals just six seconds apart to break a 10-10 tie in the final minutes to clip Edward Little 12-10 in a class A boys’ lacrosse quarterfinal match played at Thomas College.

Connor Smith broke the tie at the 2:30 mark before Colin Kinney raced down the field firing the ball past Red Eddie goalie Brandon Asselin for the insurance goal.

“This was good for our kids today. We lost a couple of tough games to end the season to Brunswick and Gardiner so the kids were down,” Messalonskee coach Tom Sheridan said. 

Earlier in the season, Messalonskee downed the Red Eddies 14-5 and this time around, the EL coaching staff had them prepared.

“We learned a lot from losing to these guys on this field before. It’s something we’ve done all year (learning from mistakes and losses), so we knew this would be no different,” EL coach James Dock said.

After Messalonskee’s Connor Smith scored the first of his three goals, giving the Eagles a seemingly controlling 5-2 early lead, the Red Eddies began mixing things up offensively. First getting an unassisted goal from Ganan Mancini with 4:27 remaining followed a minute later with a Cam Audette score quickly making it a one goal game.

“We lost momentum in the second quarter. They did things offensively like slowing things down that we just couldn’t defend,” added Sheridan.

Mancini tried to tie the score but his shot hit the post with 1:10 left giving Messalonsee a chance to get a goal back. Austin Pelletier’s shot was stopped by Asselin setting up the games’ equalizer with just 14 seconds left by Alex Landry to tie the game at the half.

“Our kids were ready to play today. We knew we could run with them and give them a game. Once we started scoring, their energy went up another level,” added Dock.

Mancini took the momentum into his own hands in the third. Less than three minutes into the quarter, Mancini drilled a goal into the back of the net to break the tie. The Eagles had trouble getting to loose balls in the third quarter and Edward Little took advantage.

“We got sloppy in the third quarter and they were able to capitalize on it,” Sheridan said.

After a Messalonksee timeout, Mancini took a Landry pass out in front and scored his second goal of the quarter. Trailing by two goals, Smith got the Eagles back on the board taking a pass from Trevor McCray on the left side of the net, pushing it past the left shoulder of Asselin. A Pelletier steal and a few moments later, Kinney tied the score with his first goal of the game. The EL duo of Mancini and Landry hooked up again with 32 seconds left as Mancini fired from 20 yards out, his fourth goal of the game to give the EL an 8-7 lead after three quarters.

Alden Balboni tied the contest at 8-8 with under nine minutes remaining in the fourth. A spectacular spin move followed by a backhand shot by Audette (3 goals) after two defenders collapsed on him, the Red Eddies went back up by one. A minute and a half later, Spencer Frahn gave EL a two goal lead with 5:46 remaining in the game.

Penalties to both teams after a mix up in front of the EL net found back up goalie Dakota Bosquet in goal. Balboni and Kinney each greeted Bosquet with un assisted goals, each their third goals, seven seconds apart to tie the score at 10-10 with 4:52 remaining.

“We came up short but I’m happy with our kids. We improved as the year went on and competing in the playoffs is huge for our program,” said Dock.

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