It’s not about winning or losing for the 0-7 Tiverton lacrosse team. The Tigers 11-man squad is gritty, determined and refuse to quit, while trying to keep their lacrosse tradition alive. They have enough to field nine players, one goalie and one substitute. They have just two seniors and four experienced, returning players. Tiverton players voted down the option to co-op with another school. Co-opting would have given them more players and possibly, a chance to win games.

“It’s been a rough go at it,” said junior captain Bodhi Gerlach. “We had the option to co-op this season. Our guys chose not to, for the simple reason, that we want to play Tiverton lacrosse. Not other team’s lacrosse. This is the path that we chose and we’re going to stick with it. Even if that means we lose every game or win every game. Our goal is to get better, day by day.”

 

Forfeiting two games

Having a single sub spells a ton of running and chasing for the Division 4 squad. And If two players are out due to injury, illness or grades, the team has to forfeit. So far Tiverton forfeited both their games against North Smithfield. 

“That was for the best,” said junior co-captain Bodhi Gerlach. “They are a really strong team. We did not feel the need to play that game. We didn’t want someone to get hurt.”

Gerlach, the Tigers' best all-around player, said that despite all of the challenges, the team is still having fun.

“It’s a good group of kids,” he said. “Whether we win or not, it’s been a short, but enjoyable season.”

 

Athletic goalie makes a plethora of saves

Tiverton’s latest loss was a 14-3 beating by a tough Ponaganset team during a home game on Thursday evening. The Tigers had trouble keeping up with the Chieftains, who consistently subbed in players at will. Tiverton senior goalie and co-captain Christian D’Acchiole, an athletic, skillful and fearless net minder, made an abundance of terrific saves while facing an onslaught of shots from the Chieftain offense. The overmatched defense had difficulty with the lack of man power and expertise to stop the Ponaganset attack. 

“We have mostly new players and only a few returning players,” Gerlach said. “Everyone is trying their best. We just aren’t going to win as many games as we’d like too.”

Offensively, the Tigers scored three goals to match their best scoring total of the season. Shane Aguiar caught a long pass from Bodhi Gerlach and easily scored under the crosse of the Chieftains goalie to cut the lead to 9-1. Easton Harwood and Gerlach each scored in the second half. 

 

Recruiting in the offseason

Gerlach said that the team is eager to recruit new players for next season, his senior year.

“We would love to have more guys, but we can’t worry about that right now,” he said. “We are going to have to cross that bridge in the offseason. We are trying to do our best to recruit. It’s a great sport. It’s a fun sport and everyone should give it a try.”

Lacrosse coaches are, head coach Shane Parker and assistants, Patrick Meyers and Ethan Meyers.