WORTON — Kent County High School’s boys lacrosse team seems to be following the script of last year’s Class 1A East II Region tournament — pinning down the No. 1 seed and home field throughout, eliminating North Dorchester in the semifinal round, and facing off against a physical and athletic Cambridge-South Dorchester squad in the championship game.
Trojan fans are hoping for a different ending in 2026.
“It’s going to come down to toughness and winning the middle of the field,” Ben Joiner ’95, the second-year head coach at alma mater KCHS, said of the upcoming region final.
Kent County [5-8] will host No. 3 seed Cambridge [4-7] on Monday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.
This is a rematch of last year’s title game, which the Vikings won, 12-4.
More recently, Cambridge topped Kent County, 14-7, in their regular-season matchup April 15, which started a five-game losing streak for the locals.
Under the heading of good news, the Trojans, while still challenged by inexperience and injuries, appear to have righted the proverbial ship with back-to-back wins by a combined score of 15-5.
As the top seed in the 1A East II Region, Kent County received a first-round bye and then ousted No. 5 seed North Dorchester, 8-4, Friday, May 8 in the semis.
Junior Colin Fry’s hat trick staked the Trojans to a 7-1 halftime lead.
Christian Merrill, Trenton Montooth, Finn Dierker and Quinten Joiner also scored before intermission. Lacrosse newcomers Merrill [six ground balls] and Dierker [one assist] scored for the first time ever.
Kent County extended the spread to 8-1 with 2 minutes, 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter when longstick midfielder Gabe Parr, off a feed from Fry, skipped the ball into the back of the net.
North Dorchester [2-12] closed out the game with three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.
Starting his run from behind the cage, Nolan Trembly curled around the left side and tucked the ball in tight with 8:16 remaining.
About five and a half minutes later, Trembly followed the same route for the Eagles’ third goal of the afternoon.
Jacob Sheeler scored on an open goal with 5.2 seconds to go for the 8-4 final.
The score disguised a game that was not that close.
Senior midfielder Gavin Miller, another of Kent County’s seven first-year lacrosse players, volunteered to step in between the pipes when everyday goalie Alex Harris suffered a hand injury in practice earlier in the week. He was credited with seven saves.
On the offensive end, the Trojans slowed down the tempo and were methodical in their approach to get good looks. They fired off 34 shots, including 15 in the first frame, but “they weren’t going in,” coach Joiner said matter-of-factly.
In an interview on the field immediately after the game, Joiner said of the overall effort, “I’m really proud of the guys. Young guys stepping up and doing the right thing, and the more experienced players elevating their game while also giving young guys opportunities.”
The Trojans, who will dress 15 on Monday, are playing in a region final at home for the third time in as many years.
The opening face-off is at 6:30 p.m. in the nightcap of a playoff doubleheader, following Kent County’s girls game at 4:30 p.m.
The cost is $6 for adults and students; anyone 6 and younger will be admitted free of charge.
The stands will be cleared between the end of the girls game and the beginning of the boys game.
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North Dorchester, a second-year varsity program, advanced to the region semifinals with a 14-4 victory in the opening round Wednesday, May 6 at No. 4 seed Bo Manor.
Cambridge moves on to the 1A East II championship game after defeating No. 2 seed Elkton, 10-7, in Friday’s other semifinal.
