RallyNorth.net

 Optimism and persistence are two key ingredients for winning that can be categorized in a number of different ways.

Not giving up, working hard, correcting faults, trust, and positive thinking will always overwhelm it's counterparts, and in sports, those factors not only raise team spirit and play, but turn around seasons and transform contenders into champions.

The Crusaders (4-6) showed their mettle in rallying from a 6-2 halftime deficit, but Williams hung on for the 9-7 victory. Pat Doliber and Eamon Barrett notched hat tricks to pace Fenwick's offense while Craig Forrest made 18 saves in net.

Gloucester boys lacrosse coach Drew Dominick has a seemingly simple philosophy on what is the key to playing winning lacrosse | play solid for four quarters.

 Unfortunately for the Fishermen, they turned in just one quarter of solid play in their 5-4 loss to Salem yesterday at Salem High School.

After three tough quarters, it took just a moment for Andover to turn the tide.

Trailing by a goal heading into the fourth quarter, the Golden Warriors scored three times in under a minute and went on to down neighbor rival North Andover 7-4 last night.

BEVERLY -- Someday, new Beverly High boys lacrosse coach John Pynchon may be able to recount every single thing that happens on the field. But for now, he's settling on watching just bits and pieces of the play on game day.

For the rest of the spring, you'd be hard-pressed to find a lacrosse game that more easily fits the "tale of two halves" cliche.

Saugus led at halftime over a lifeless Gloucester team that was searching for its first win of the season.

Justin Sproul notched a whopping 11 goals to lead Londonderry to a 13-6 win over Salem. Craig Enos added two goals for the Lancers. Patrick Allen, Steve Delfosse and Kyle Kenney each scored twice for the Blue Devils.

The Beverly High lacrosse team's remarkable win streak in the Northeastern Conference is still alive. But Panthers coach John Pynchon doesn't want his team putting pressure on itself.

Jack Liacos scored in overtime, off an assist by Dave Cheney, as Beverly tipped Danvers, 8-7, yesterday. Beverly (4-3 overall) has won 102 straight NEC games going back to 1997.

Sophomore Joey Flaherty got his first varsity goal and didn't stop there, recording a hat trick to pace the Crusaders (4-4) over St. Mary's 6-4. Pat Doliber added a goal and an assist and goalie Craig Forrest stopped 15 shots to make an early 5-1 lead stand up.

In a Cape Ann League that is run by a pair of lacrosse powerhouses in North Andover and Masconomet, the River Rival teams are all aware that the remainder of the schedule is wide open, and that on any given day, any one team could beat the other.