By John Bombatch
BEAVERCREEK — Another sport, another intense Carroll-Beavercreek rivalry.
That’s how the schools’ two boys first-year lacrosse teams saw Friday afternoon’s inaugural meeting on Beavercreek’s Frank Zink Field.
Carroll sophomore Christian Nadeau had a couple years of lacrosse playing experience, and so he used that to his — and the Patriots’ — advantage. Nadeau scored three goals and Carroll’s varsity squad won over Beavercreek’s junior varsity in the first lacrosse match between the two boys teams, 6-3.
“I used to play at Bellbrook before this, so I had that experience to help me today, Nadeau said. He scored all three of his goals in the first half. “There’s obviously growing pains (with a first-year team), but we have a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the roster. We’re hoping that in a couple years that we’ll have developed our skills. Then, when they’re juniors and seniors they’ll be more competitive.”
Nadeau scored the first goal at the 8:15 mark of the opening 10-minute quarter. He put Carroll out in front 2-0 about five minutes later with a close-range shot from the left wing.
Beavercreek got on the scoreboard with just over a minute left in the opening period of play, on what appeared to be an own-goal. The ball appeared to bound into the Carroll goal off of a Patriots defender with 1:04 left to play in the opening period.
Nadeau then tallied his third goal of the day with 4:25 left to play in the first half to make it 3-1, Carroll.
In the second half, Carroll got goals from sophomore middie Cameron Joly, Dalton Drumm and, with 10 seconds left to play, from Jeremy Mazera for the final tally.
Beavercreek’s Liam Davis scored with a minute left to play in the third quarter, and teammate Diante Marti put in the final Beavers goal with 2:41 left to play.
“We’ll take a good win like that any time of the school year,” said Carroll boys lacrosse coach Ben Rulli. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Rulli is also the Carroll football coach in the fall. “Anytime you play a tough game against our cross-town rivals, and you come home with a win, that’s a good day. It’s just great for lacrosse in general, to have all these programs popping up.”
Carroll’s first-year program is now 3-2 overall with the win. They host Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy on Monday.
‘Creek JV coach Geoff Kasulones said Friday’s match was a good learning experience for his inexperienced squad.
“Everything is about us continuing to grow, getting guys out on the field, just trying to get them some playing experience,” Kasulones said of his 1-2 team. “Carroll came out and played a nice game. We just have to continue to learn and work on our skills. We’ll be fine.”
The Beavercreek girls played Little Miami in an evening match at Zink Field after the boys game. The Battlin’ Beavers dominated play to up their record to 7-1 thus far this season.
Junior Sabra Woodruff had scored five goals, Caitlyn Newport and Amanda Bowlsby scored twice, Megan Miller, Cassie Mullins, Mackenzie Sorensen, Harmony Pierce, Kelsea Maxwell and Ellie Cade each had a goal; Woodruff, Mullins, Madalyn Frye, Miller and Pierce each provided assists in the 16-3 win. One of Beavercreek’s goals was an own goal off Harmony Pierce’s shot.
Beth Patten had scored two goals, and Paige Kornaker one for Little Miami.
