HANOVER — The Hanover High boys lacrosse team took its lumps against St. Thomas in a NHIAA D-II matchup at Merriman-Branch Field on Friday.

For most of the first quarter, the game was played in Hanover’s defensive end, which ultimately spelled trouble for the Bears. Senior Henry Cotter made some stellar saves early on to keep the game scoreless.

Eventually, though, the dam broke open — and then the skies did, too — in a 13-3 loss to the Saints.

Hanover surrendered the game’s first goal to St. Thomas’ Ryan Resch off a nifty assist with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Saints took advantage of a bungled clearance from the Bears to make it 2-0 with 31.1 seconds remaining in the first on a goal from senior Jackson Estes.

St. Thomas extended their lead to 5-0 in the second period before the game entered a lengthy weather delay when thunder rumbled overhead.

The delay, which lasted almost three hours, provided both squads a chance to socialize, with opposing players mingling inside Hanover High as they waited. Some of the more energetic competitors stayed loose by working out in the weight room or playing basketball in the school’s gym.

Finally, after the rain subsided, the teams retook the field. While the rain may have stopped, the strikes quickly resumed for the Saints, who continued to score.

By the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Bears faced a 12-0 deficit.

In a huddle before the final period, Hanover head coach Sean Murphy challenged his team to stay competitive. The Bears finally got on the board a few minutes into the final quarter on a goal from junior Samuel Bagatell.

“The kids played all the way through, and that’s kind of the big part,” said Murphy. “We want to show up, do everything we can with the best of our ability with the time we have.”

Hanover went on to notch two more goals in the fourth quarter from sophomores Jake Rotchford and Michael Anderson, and St. Thomas added one for the final margin.

While the outcome was not what the Bears were looking for, Murphy emphasized that the message to his team after the game was the same one he preaches regularly.

“We’re constantly focused on developing, growing, taking that next step as a team, as a program, the best version of our competitive selves, but also the type of people that these young men are,” he said.

Hanover had won back-to-back games coming into Friday’s match. The loss dropped the Bears to 4-5 on the year, and things won’t be easier from here. Hanover’s next game is on the road against unbeaten Derryfield on Monday.

“I don’t think we’ve seen our best lacrosse yet. I don’t think they believe that, so we’re excited about going out and finishing strong,” said Murphy.

Michael Coughlin Jr. can be reached at mcoughlin@vnews.com.