Tigers Have No Answer for Holland on Senior Day

NARRAGANSETT – It was a happy Senior Day for the home team and its sole senior, Harry Holland, as the Mariners beat the Tiverton/Rogers team 9-5 in boys’ lacrosse action on Friday afternoon.

“I was really feeling it,” Holland said afterward, downplaying his performance with a laugh. “The first half was really tough, but in the second half I was able to find the holes in the defense.”

The Mariners (7-7, 7-5 Division III) started off slowly, trailing 3-2 after a quarter and 4-3 at the half. However, they used superior depth to tame Tiverton (1-10, 1-10 Division III).

Tigers’ head coach Shane Parker said that unfortunately, Friday’s result was typical for his team, which has struggled as a smaller program.

“We have flashes where we look like we can beat anyone,” he said, adding that it is tough to develop consistency with a smaller, inexperienced roster. Tiverton only has three seniors on its roster.

The Tigers actually took a two-goal advantage shortly after the half started. Senior Kenneth Welchman picked up his fourth assist of the game, setting up Adam Lavoie for his second goal.

Unfortunately for Tiverton, Narragansett scored six straight goals. Two in the third left the game tied heading into the final quarter, when the Mariners scored four more to put the contest out of reach.

Holland was involved in each of the second half’s scoring plays. He scored both third quarter goals, and followed it up with two goals in the fourth quarter. He also assisted on goals by freshman Rob Pratt and freshman Henry McGreen.

Narragansett head coach Mark Chafee said he was pleased to see the defense improve in the second half.

“We gave up some really soft goals, but thankfully we worked through it,” he said.

However, for the second straight home game, things got chippy for the Mariners at the end.

Junior Connor Timpson received a penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior earlier in the game, after getting tangled with Tiverton’s Jacob Albernaz. Timpsons then received another penalty with just a few minutes left.

Chafee said his team has to do a better job of keeping its emotions in check to be successful in the playoffs.

“I want them to play hard and physical, but the chattering and silliness has to go,” he said.

With no regular season games left to play, Narragansett is in a three-way tie with Toll Gate and Warwick Vets.

According to RIIL rules, ties are determined by head-to-head record first. Narragansett split the season series with both teams, but had a much worse goal differential than both teams, making it likely that they will be the No. 4 seed.

Tiverton hosts Scituate at 6 p.m. today, and both teams are tied for the final playoff spot right now. The winner qualifies, while the loser stays home. Tiverton’s lone win this year is at Scituate, 3-2 on April 20.

Smithfield leads Division III with an undefeated 12-0 mark. East Providence is in fifth place at 6-6.

Narragansett also ends its season today. The Mariners play a non-league game at Curtis Corner Middle School against South Kingstown (11-4, 9-4 Division II-South).

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