The New Hartford varsity boys lacrosse team raced out to a 6-1 halftime lead and held off host Fulton 12-5 on Tuesday.

The Raiders (2-12) played much better in the second half, pulling to within 10-5 when Chad Smith scored on a great effort just 14 seconds into the fourth quarter. He won the faceoff, went in toward the goal, absorbed a check, and took the shot as he fell to the ground. The ball went inside the right post, and capped a string of three straight goals for Fulton.

Goalie Eric Belair (4 saves) made some nice stops to keep the Raiders’ momentum going. At the other end of the field, Nick Bolton took a shot from straight on that just missed right.

The Spartans (8-4) then regained control with a goal on a pretty passing play from Paul Ferrone to Spencer Davidson. That put New Hartford up 11-5, and Andrew Miller added a man-up goal with 3:30 left.

Fulton coach Craig Halladay said New Hartford is too talented to spot a 6-1 halftime lead.

“They’re a good team. They run, they keep running, and they have their heads up looking for the rest of their teammates. You can’t spot a good team like that a six-goal lead,” Halladay said. “If we had played both halves like we played the second half, we’d have made them earn the victory.”

Thomas Karam topped the Spartans with five goals. Also getting goals were Andrew Kelleher, Phil Chapman (2), Jacob Silberlicht, Zack Stanek, Davidson, and Miller. Sharing time in goal for New Hartford were Pat Alcott (5 saves) and Sagar Patel (6 saves).

Karam had three first-half markers and Chapman had two as New Hartford assumed a 6-1 halftime lead.

Smith topped Fulton with three goals, while David Williams and Bolton had one each. Brett Williams had one assist. Also seeing action in goal for Fulton was Adam Wilcox (11 saves).

Halladay praised his players for fighting hard in the second half.

“It shows a little bit of character to come back after getting your butt kick and getting outrun a bit in the first half,” Halladay said. “We came back and made it somewhat of a game in the second half.”

Turnovers took away some of Fulton’s scoring chances.

“We had some opportunities, but we can’t make the turnovers that we did,” Halladay said. “We have to cherish each possession of the ball, and right now we don’t do that.”
Fulton plays at Jamesville-DeWitt at 7 p.m. Thursday.