Although the Loch Raven boys lacrosse program honored one of its former standout players by dedicating the new field house to his memory on Friday, the Raiders were unable to top off the festivities with a victory over visiting Eastern Tech.
The Mavericks were simply too strong, winning, 7-2, in a game marked by the ejection of Eastern Tech coach Larry Hall and assistant Mark Bosserman in the final 11 seconds.
Before the coaches were tossed by the officials, Eastern Tech (3-5) dominated time of possession, face-offs, shots and ground balls yet still had difficulty putting away the depleted Raiders (1-8) and snapping a five-game losing streak.
Loch Raven, which was missing four starters because of academic and discipline reasons, made the Mavericks work for the win, in part because of a stellar performance by goalie Alex Parias.
All the senior did was record 21 saves in his first start of the season, keeping his team in the game until midway through the fourth quarter.
Parias said didn't learn that he would start until third period on Friday.
He appeared to be as poised as grizzled veteran while making 14 of his stops in the first half and only giving up goals to senior midfielder Victor Marquez and sophomore middie Nolan Bosserman.
"He's been great in practice," Loch Raven coach John Hanley said about Parias. "He's one of those guys who took the opportunity and owned it."
Parias admitted he was nervous before the game.
"I just used my basic skills, talked and had faith in my defense," he said after facing a whopping 44 shots.
Unfortunately for Parias, his counterpart, Brian Nguyen, was also on his game. The senior stopper turned away five Loch Raven shots and the Raiders missed the cage on its two other offerings while drawing a blank in the first half.
Loch Raven finally broke through when senior midfielder Ed Countryman's one-hopper eluded Nguyen to make it a 2-1 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The score stood senior midfielder Christian Hall gave the visitors a 3-1 advantage with less than seven minutes later.
Goals by junior attackman Braxton Brent, Bosserman and senior attackman Dustin Stone for the Mavericks put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
Still, Bosserman and Loch Raven senior midfielder Jordan Perry traded goals in the final minute before tempers flared, penalties were assessed and coaches thrown out before the final whistle.
The event began on a much more uplifting note when a new concession stand — Lancaster Grill — and permanent rest rooms were unveiled prior to the Raiders marching around the field while hoisting a No. 7 Loch Raven jersey on a longstick once used by James T. Smith.
Smith was a longstick middie on the 2008 squad who was killed by a car while crossing Loch Raven Boulevard following the season.
At another brief ceremony, officials unveiled a bronze plaque of the former Raider and a sign depicting the James T. Smith Field House.
"The school has opened its heart to us," said James' dad, Loch Raven Village resident Gary Smith. "Principal Bonnie Lambert and lacrosse coaches Rob Persing and John Hanley have been wonderful. Our son loved Loch Raven lacrosse, but he got along with everyone. It didn't matter if you were a goth or a jock, he liked everyone."
As Loch Raven athletic director Mike McEwan said during the ceremony, "(James) is at home where he belongs and will now be here for all time. He would have liked that."