SACO — Somewhere along the line, Thornton Academy managed to locate, then press the reset button on its boys lacrosse season. It happened not a moment too soon.
The Golden Trojans, whose playoff chances were all but dead after stumbling to a 1-6 start, took its fourth win in a row, Wednesday, a 10-6 triumph over Windham.
Tim Grose and Chris Dolewa each netted three goals, while goaltender Thomas Allain provided the Trojans with timely stops.
Needless to say, Thornton’s post-season aspirations are very much alive with one regular season tilt left, June 2 against Massabesic.
“We just knew that coming into this game,” said Dolewa, “it was crucial for us to win to get into the playoffs. We did that.”
And did it convincingly.
Thornton opened the scoring in the first quarter with three goals in an explosive 40-second span.
Dolewa played the role of triggerman on the first tally, at 7:37.
“Starting off with the first goal was definitely a big one for us,” Dolewa said. “I just saw my man and knew I had to beat him and put that first goal in to give us momentum.”
Dolewa followed by winning the next two draws, both of which led to Thornton tallies, by Grose and Steve Woodcock.
Standing 6-foot-6, Dolewa enjoys a significant physical advantage in the face off circle.
However, he said he relies on brains instead of brawn to wrestle the ball free.
“I usually try to work my quickness to my advantage,” he said, “because they’re definitely not expecting it, thinking I’m going to be a big lug. “I just try to keep my hands light on the face off. Try to beat the guy to the ball, and not muscle it. Push the ball to myself and start the
fast break that way.”
Windham closed to within 3-2 early in the second quarter, but Parker Roma restored Thornton’s two-goal lead at 5:13, after he barged toward the net from the right wing.
Thornton opened the third quarter with another three-goal outburst, taking just 3:21 to lurch to a 7-2 lead.
“We were peppering the goal the whole first half,” said Thornton coach Ryan Hersey. “But we couldn’t (connect) sometimes. Then that third quarter came around and we (scored) three goals. It’s not that we were doing anything different, it’s just that we were finding the back of
the net with our shots.”
Thornton took a 9-4 lead at 1:42 of the fourth quarter on Nathan Colpitts’ bouncer, before cruising to the finish.
“We’re going to keep rolling,” said Dolewa. “Hopefully (right) through the playoffs.”
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