Aged Wood Lacrosse Squad Falls to Atlantic Sportswear, 7-6

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Aged Wood goalkeeper John Hauck.

The first loss of the season was a painful one for Westwood's Aged Wood Lacrosse Club Tuesday night on the Flahive Field at .  

The Atlantic Sportswear (ASW) team from Maine, historically one of the strongest in the Old New England Lacrosse League (O.N.E.L.L.), ultimately took home the 7-6 win. We were eager to showcase that our young team (in our second year of existence) could compete with the best.  

After a number of problems getting the game underway, AWLC took control immediately with a quick 3-0 lead, the leadoff goal coming from Greg Mahoney with an underhand shot low and off stick side, followed up by fellow midfielders Mike Stanton and Todd Zahurak.  

The AWLC defense stepped up and really kept the ASW offense at bay. In the second quarter, ASW woke up and went on a tear, scoring four unanswered goals.  

After halftime, AWLC regrouped and with three more goals, looked to take command and started to wear down the visitors. ASW got two more goals to make it 6-5, and time was beginning to run out.  

With a series of bizarre plays and penalties, the game changed. With under two minutes left in the game, AWLC was unable to keep the ball in the offensive end of the field, resulting in a turnover. There was a lot of confusion around a series of bizarre penalties that put AWLC in a man down (two men) situation with about a minute left.  

ASW was able to capitalize on this, and scored a controversial goal quickly (the player seemed to be inside the crease, which should be a reversal of the goal).  

A turnover with about 45 seconds left gave the ball to ASW and they took advantage with some great play around the crease and scored again.

AWLC had one more shot with about 26 seconds left in the game, but the ASW defense came up big to hold on to the 7-6 win. It was an unfortunate way to lose.

We look forward to the return of a number of players that were missing Tuesday night with another big game next week, as we host the Salty Old Buzzards from Marion.

This is another strong team that we lost to in the regular season last year. The game will take place in Westwood at the Flahive Field. Our thoughts go out to Mike McInnis, who had to leave early Tuesday with a leg/knee injury and hope it was not serious.