Sophomore transfer makes Old Rochester boys lacrosse even more dangerous

MATTAPOISETT — A year ago, Old Rochester boys lacrosse averaged nearly 13 goals per game on its way to a perfect 16-0 regular season and South Coast Conference title.

Almost the entire team is back and what’s scary is the Bulldogs have added even more firepower with the addition of Andrew Nee.

A sophomore transfer from Wareham, Nee is quickly making a name for himself at Old Rochester. He notched four goals in the Bulldogs’ 18-5 victory over Apponequet on Friday afternoon in a battle among two of the SCC’s top teams.

“Last year they didn’t have a lefty attackman so I feel like I really filled that gap,” said Nee, who began playing lacrosse at around age four. “I was playing at Falmouth when I was younger, but I felt like this was a better option. That was one of the main reasons (for doing school choice). I’ve felt welcomed since the first day.”

Old Rochester head coach Michael Forns said that Nee is the perfect fit.

“He fits into the system,” Forns said. “He understands how it works. He has a very high IQ when it comes to understanding lacrosse.”

Nee scored the game’s first goal off a pass from Zachary Zutaut in the opening 10 seconds. He added three goals in the second half as the Bulldogs blew the game open.

“I feel like we really connected really well,” Nee said. “We had some rust the first game, but in this game we really picked it up.”

With the Lakers focused on containing Brady Lee, others like Nee took advantage.

“Considering they had to have a man on me, face guarding me the whole game, that took me out of the equation but it also gave us another opportunity,” said Lee, who still finished with four goals and one assist. “When I was dodging, they were so focused on me, someone would slip off the ball and we’d have an opportunity right there.”

Forns said he was pleased to see how Lee, who is headed to Roger Williams University next year to play lacrosse, handled himself.

“Guys shut him off and he wants to figure out how to get free,” Forns said. “He’s a complete player. He’s strong. He can play defense, offense, shoot left handed and shoot right handed.”

Six different players scored for Old Rochester. Nee, Lee and Tyler Cardinal finished with four goals apiece.

“They did a fantastic job of reading and understanding the game,” Forns said. “A lot of last year was teaching this game. This year is how you read this game. What’s next? It’s like chess.

“We’ve got guys all over the field and they understand the system. My favorite part about this group is they know how to make adjustments. We started off pretty rocky and then they figure it out.”

It was a back-and-forth game early on with neither team leading by more than a goal for the first 21 minutes.

With the game tied at four, Lee scored the first of four straight goals by the Bulldogs to enter halftime ahead 8-4.

“We were playing well and then a few mistakes happened — whether it was turnovers or faceoffs — they’re a good team and they moved the ball really effectively and they capitalized on our mistakes,” said Apponequet head coach Jeremy Nodelman. “Against a really good team, they capitalize every time you make a mistake so credit to them.”

Harry Hughes gave Old Rochester a major advantage winning nearly every faceoff in the first half and during the game.

“Harry has impeccable strength and he’s fast as lightning and he’s a competitor,” Forns said. “Even if he loses a faceoff, he’ll do everything he can to get the ball back. He’s a competitor. He’s a guy you want on your team and you don’t want to play against.”

Nodelman added, “He was a dominant faceoff guy today. They had 12 possessions in the first half and we were lucky they didn’t score on all 12 because every possession is an opportunity to have on offense.”

With eight of his 12 saves in the first, Apponequet goalie Hunter Owen kept it close early on.

“He made some great saves,” Nodelman said. “He’s sort of the captain of the defense. He kept us in a bunch of plays especially when they’re sitting on the doorsteps. He kept us in for a while.”

WHAT IT MEANS: With the win, Old Rochester improves to 2-0. The Bulldogs visit Bourne on Wednesday. … The loss was the first of the season for Apponequet, which falls to 3-1. The Lakers host Seekonk on Wednesday.

FORNS: “It’s a good group of guys. They’re having a lot of fun. The morale is really up.”

APPONEQUET STATS: Will Levrault had a team-high three goals while Kenny Wisniewski and Jake Cusson added one goal apiece.

OLD ROCHESTER STATS: Zutaut had two goals and two assists while Sawyer Fox scored twice and Hughes had one goal. Jack Langlais had a team-high three assists.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Old Rochester boys lacrosse beats Apponequet in SCC action