EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School boys' lacrosse team dropped a Division IV home outing to the Cranston East/North Providence co-op by a 9-3 count on an overcast, brisk Thursday afternoon, May 4, at the Townie Stadium on campus.

The loss was the seventh in a row for the locals and left them with a 1-8 record in league games. The visiting Thunderbolts improved to 3-6.

The Townies never led, though they were quite competitive throughout the game. East Providence twice managed to slice their deficit to a single goal in the first half, initially to make the score 2-1 and the last coming with about three minutes remaining in the second quarter to make the score 3-2.

In between, East Providence peppered the Thunderbolts end with a series of quality scoring chances, but couldn't quite find the range. Cranston East soon followed the barrage with a goal on the counterattack to go up 3-1.

A bit later and after the Townies called a timeout, Simon Palumbo, from the middle of the field, set up Matt Patrone for his second tally of the day, a one-timer from the right side that beat the Cranston East keeper low to his left.

The Thunderbolts, though, would regain a two-goal edge with just 10 seconds remaining the half when after a series of nice saves by EPHS goalie Jacob Leite a shot finally beat the junior netminder.

Patrone scored all three of the East Providence goals for a hat-trick. Palumbo assisted on one other as well. Leite was credited with nine saves.