Exeter 7   Deerfield 10
Exeter, NH , Saturday, May 17th - Exeter faced the top rated team in New England and played them very tough for the full 48 minutes of this hard fought contest. With the exception of a few mistakes that led to easy goals, the Big Red played the talented Deerfield team even. Exeter jumped on top 2-0 half way through the first quarter off of goals by Max Cassidy and Ted McKenna. When Exeter controlled the next face-off, all was right with Exeter. All this momentum came to a screeching halt with a throwing error on a clear that went straight to a Deerfield attackman for an empty net goal. After controlling the next faceoff, Deerfield tied the game 30 seconds later on a middie isolation, and Exeter was now in a dog fight. This is what happens when playing great teams, they make you pay for every mistake. Exeter took the lead 3-2 on a Nick Laster rocket off of Matt Rawson's 2nd assist, but incredibly, Exeter made another silly clearing mistake with less than two minutes to play in the first quarter to allow Deerfield to tie the score again. Exeter and Deerfield traded goals before the period ended as Max Cassidy notched his 2nd goal of the quarter. Exeter again went ahead three minutes into the 2nd quarter as Brent Mayo scored off an Eric Slingerland assist. With six minutes to play in the 2nd quarter and Exeter ahead 5-4, Exeter's man-up team hit the pipe twice with shots and a 3rd quality shot was saved, all within 30 seconds. When Deerfield went down and scored in their next possession to tie the score 5-5, another momentum shift occurred. Exeter gained control, but then turned the ball over on an ill advised shot rather then maintaining possession and insuring at least a tie score at halftime. Once again Deerfield punished Exeter for the mistake and scored two more unanswered goals to take a 7-5 halftime lead. Those last few minutes of the 2nd quarter were huge. The 2nd half was much more of a defensive battle as Sam Gardner, Sam Johnson, Matt Callahan, Eddie Williams, Charlie Brewer, Tom Clayton, and Jon Stidd all played great defense behind goalie Tyler Page against a very talented offensive club. Although the defense held Deerfield to just three 2nd half goals, the offense could only muster 2nd half goals by Laster and Slingerland and thus not close the gap. There were plenty of offensive opportunities, but some poor shooting that has plagued Exeter at other times in the season prevented more offensive output. Laster and Cassidy finished the day with two goals apiece, and the incredible defensive work and overall play by Sam Gardner certainly deserves special mention. It was a very high quality high school lacrosse game that was a privilege to be part of.
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Team	1st quarter	2nd quarter	3rd quarter	4th quarter	Game Total
Exeter	4	1	1	1	7
Deerfield	4	3	2	1	10

Game Scoring - Goals - Laster (2), Cassidy (2), Slingerland, Mayo, McKenna

                           Assists - Rawson (2), Cassidy, Slingerland

Faceoffs Won/ Faceoff Attempted-Eberhart 11/19

Saves/Shots on Goal - Page 17/27