WORTON — Kent County High School’s lacrosse players are learning from every game.
“True dat,” second-year head coach Ben Joiner might say.
The youthful Trojans, who return only two seniors from last year’s 5-9 campaign, learned something about themselves in their first game, when they rallied from five goals down to win at North East in extra time, 11-10.
They’ve learned to play from behind, like coming back from the 7-2 deficit at North East on March 20, and to play with a big lead, like the 12-3 victory at Bo Manor six days later.
And they’ve learned from each of their three losses, most recently against their border rivals from Queen Anne’s, 16-1.
After each game, win or lose, at some point during his wrap-up coach Joiner has reinforced how “super proud” he is with the Trojans’ efforts.
“We have really good athletes, and we’re growing as lacrosse players,” Joiner told The Evening Enterprise in an interview immediately after last week’s game at Worton Park against Queen Anne’s.
But challenges include a small roster that already is down two players due to injuries and a schedule that includes some of the best teams on the Shore such as Queen Anne’s, Easton, Parkside and defending Class 2A state champion Kent Island.
Sophomore Quinten Joiner [13 goals, 6 assists] and junior Colin Fry [7 goals] are the leading returning scorers. They will need help to offset the graduation of Ethan Clark, who totaled more than 100 career goals, including 34 last year.
Joiner is the only true attackman with high school experience. His linemates include freshman Owen Fry, who suffered a broken collarbone in the March 27 game against James M. Bennett, and lacrosse novices Trenton Montooth, Finn Dierker and Peseth Ing.
Colin Fry runs on the first midfield with senior Gavin Miller, who is brand new to the sport of lacrosse, and junior Gabe Parr, the team MVP in 2025.
Other midfielders include Vincent Bledsoe, Austin Cox, Christian Merrill, Aiden Ruiz and Noel Farinacci, who also is out with an injury.
Kent returns an experienced close defense of juniors Tucker Ervin and Dwan Harris and seniors Danny Harris and Lynden Saunders.
Ervin also will play some long-stick middie.
Alex Harris steps up as the starting goalie after backing up David Daniels last year.
KCHS is 2-3 heading into Friday’s game at Worton Park against North Dorchester. The opening face-off is at 4 p.m.
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On March 20, the first day of spring, Aiden Ruiz scored the golden goal at North East about four minutes into sudden death.
Also in that game, Quinten Joiner found the back of the net four times, Gabe Parr was three-and-one, Colin Fry contributed two goals and Gavin Miller was one-and-three.
Alex Harris [12 saves] earned his first high school win as a starting net-minder.
In the home opener against Bo Manor on March 26, Colin Fry led all players with six goals. Parr and Trenton Montooth each had two goals and Joiner [three assists] scored once. Miller and Cox each had an assist. Harris stopped eight shots.
The following day, in a cold rain, James Bennett handed Kent County its first loss, 13-7. Joiner had a hat trick, and Fry and Parr scored two goals apiece.
On March 30, Easton defeated Kent County, 17-4, with Fry doing all the scoring for Kent. Miller assisted on two of the goals. Alex Harris came up with a career high of 15 saves.
Fry, with a left-handed shot, scored KCHS’ only goal in the loss to Queen Anne’s on April 1. The goal came in the second half, which was played with a running clock. Harris had 13 saves.
Bennett is a Class 3A school and Easton and Queen Anne’s are Class 2A schools — all much larger than Class 1A KCHS.
Ben Joiner’s coaching staff includes KCHS lacrosse alumni Ty Anderson and Kreigh Kirby and Washington College graduate Keen Griffin.
