PORTLAND — Kennebunk got its offense back on track during the second half to roll to a 9-5 victory against Deering in an SMAA boys’ lacrosse game at Memorial Field Wednesday night.

Bobby Kramer and Nick Gross each scored four goals as Kennebunk recorded its fifth win of the season.

“In the second half, we switched offenses,” Kramer said. “We went to a circle offense, and that kept the middle open for cutters. It seemed to be pretty successful.”

Gross and Kramer each scored from out front during the first seven minutes of the third quarter to help Kennebunk to a 6-3 lead. Deering pulled within two goals twice during the final 15 minutes of the fourth, but Kennebunk responded both times by scoring quickly.

“The players scrapped to the end and they rode hard,” Kennebunk Coach Vinnie LoBello said. “It’s a win and I’ll take it.”

Kennebunk, second in the latest Western Class A Heal point standings, had difficulty hanging onto the ball during the first half.

“It came down to throwing and catching today,” LoBello said. “At halftime I’m talking to them about how to throw a lacrosse ball. I said, ‘I can’t believe we’re talking about this halfway through the season. It’s fundamental.’“

Still, after chasing Deering for most of the first half, Kennebunk (5-1) managed to pull into a 4-3 lead when Gross intercepted an inbounds pass from behind the Deering goal and scored with about a minute left in the first half.

“Our defense started playing well and our goalie played great,” LoBello said. “On offense, we just weren’t getting that pass off.”

Deering, which is playing its first season in Eastern Class A, held a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Kurt Oakman, one of Kennebunk’s long-stick defenders, made it 3-3 eight minutes into the second quarter by scoring on a fast break after intercepting a pass.

“We gave them a lot of chances and they capitalized on them,” Deering Coach Bob Rothbart said.

“We had difficulty clearing the ball. We threw the ball several times into their sticks.”

Kennebunk held a 16-15 edge in shots on goal.

“When we had the ball, we did OK,” Rothbart said. “We possessed the ball nicely, then we threw it away and gave them a lot of second and third opportunities.”

Riley Asbury scored two goals for Deering (3-3). Pat Roma, Sewall Jackson and Johnny Hammond each scored a goal. Karl Rickett had an assist.

Goalie Rob Stockbridge made 10 saves for Kennebunk, while Nick Holton had seven saves for Deering.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com