BY SAPNA PATHAK

They know how to take the lead.

Now they have to learn how to hold it.

And until Salem’s boys lacrosse team figures out how to stay ahead of opponents until the final whistle blows, Chris Kelleher’s postgame talk will sound like a broken record.

“They think the game’s over before they even played it,” said Kelleher after an 8-4 loss to Manchester Central. “We jumped up two (goals) quick, and they thought it was over, and it clearly wasn’t. That’s something we have to work on. We have to play the entire game – the entire game.”

Close games are nothing new to the Blue Devils, who followed the Little Green loss with victories over Manchester West, 8-4, and Nashua North, 11-9. Perhaps, said Kelleher, it’s the team’s mixture of youth and veterans that’s led to this year’s choppy play.

With 10 seniors leading a group of newcomers, the Blue Devils have, at times, had trouble meshing on the field.

Against Central, Brendon Lyons scored twice, while senior co-captain Pete Emerzian and Ryan Shelley netted one shot apiece.

“Against those top teams like Pinkerton or Exeter, we get a bit overwhelmed,” said Kelleher of the four-year varsity program. “They’ve been doing this at this level for a lot longer, but we’re getting there. We could just as easily be 5-1 instead of 3-3, but the problem is consistency.”

Facing the Little Green, goalie Shaun Russell guarded the net for the first half before giving way to freshman Joey Scire. Junior Chris Frebiani, who played attacker against North, has also impressed Kelleher in net. But he coach said he’s relying on the defense to make up for the goaltending trio’s inexperience.

“Goaltending is going to be huge for us, but unfortunately we’ve got little experience,” said Kelleher.

“Until I see someone look hot in a game, I’ll keep moving people around. We’re still kicking out the old habits of not putting teams away. We just haven’t developed that killer instinct.”

The Blue Devils face Londonderry on Thursday, May 3.

Game notes

Against Manchester West, Ryan Shelley and Eric Jablonski scored two goals each. Brett Miller, Brendon Lyons, Pete Emerzian and Sean Redmond each scored one.

Facing Nashua North, Jablonski, Chris Frebiani, Emerzian and Steve Delfosse scored two goals apiece. Miller, Nick Tomasi and Jordan Kusch each put away one goal for the Blue Devils