Exeter 6  Deerfield 12
Deerfield, MA, Saturday, May 21st - In order to beat a great team like Deerfield, it takes almost perfect execution of the game plan, controlling the ground balls, winning the faceoffs, handling the ball without silly turnovers, staying out of the penalty box, and great goalie play. Exeter did all of those things, but for only the first half of the game. Despite losing Mark Scalise, the team's 2nd leading scorer, to an injury just 2 minutes into the game, Exeter gave the home team all they could handle and more in a great 1st half display of defensive and transition lacrosse. Brett Davis put Exeter up 1-0 on an unassisted goal at the 7-minute mark of the 1st quarter, which was equaled by Deerfield's star midfielder just two minutes later. The first quarter ended 1-1, and the game was shaping up like the defensive battle many were anticipating. At the defensive end, Coleman Peeke, Kevin Crane, and Ian Drummond held the potent Deerfield attack in check, while the defensive midfield of Kirk Bansak, Brett Hughes, Bruce Hallett, Chris Downer, and Evan Crosby did a great job on the powerful Deerfield middies. Exeter's first stick check penalty of the season put Exeter a man down to start the 2nd quarter, and Deerfield took advantage to go ahead 2-1 and gain some momentum. A minute later, a Deerfield middie scored again, and Exeter was down 3-1 with 10 minutes left until the half. The next 10 minutes featured some of the Big Red's best lacrosse of the season. Chris Mayer pumped in a goal off a great coast to coast clear and assist by Coleman Peeke to make it 3-2. Travis Glennon won the subsequent faceoff to start a fast break, and then rifled home a shot when the Deerfield defense did not slide to him quickly enough. Two minutes later, Chris Mayer scored his second goal of the game off a Michael Scalise assist, and Exeter was back on top 4-3 with 5 minutes until the half. Exeter controlled the action for much of that time and drew a Deerfield penalty with 53 seconds until halftime. Exeter produced a couple of good shots in their man-up, but could not make it a 2-goal lead. The tone was set for the 2nd half collapse when Exeter did not hold onto the ball in the last seconds of the 2nd quarter. Instead of starting the 3rd quarter with the ball and still with a man advantage, a faceoff took place, which Exeter lost. Four minutes into the 2nd half, the score was still 4-3 when an Exeter clearing mistake with the goalie up near midfield produced an unsettled situation and a Deerfield tying goal. Deerfield followed it up 20 seconds later with another goal to take a 5-4 lead. Jon Higgins scored in a man advantage situation for Exeter a couple of minutes later, and the game was knotted 5-5 with just over four minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, Exeter had a four-minute lapse of concentration and sloppy play, and that was all it took for Deerfield to pump in 4 goals to take a commanding 9-5 lead into the 4th quarter. In that stretch, Exeter could not win and hold onto a faceoff, committed 3 penalties that resulted in a 2-man down situation and a subsequent goal, and then had some misfortune with a loose ball situation and a garbage goal in front of the Exeter cage. The 4th quarter remained scoreless for almost 9 minutes, and then Exeter went into scramble mode to try and get the ball back. Sam Duprey scored Exeter's 6th goal on a nice outside shot, but a comeback was not going to happen. Deerfield is an excellent team that played a great 2nd half and took advantage of the Exeter mistakes that were avoided in the first half. Click here to see game pics

Team	1st quarter	2nd quarter	3rd quarter	4th quarter	Game Total
Exeter	1	3	1	1	6
Deerfield	1	2	6	3	12

Game Scoring - Goals - Glennon, Davis, Higgins, Duprey, Mayer(2)

                           Assists - Scalise,Peeke, Mayer(2)

Faceoffs Won/Faceoffs Attempted - Glennon 3/11, Davis 4/9

Saves/Shots on Goal - Harrigan(15/27)