Saturday afternoon’s boys’ lacrosse game between Cranston West and Cranston East at Cranston Stadium may have been a non-league game with no impact on the standings, but there was much more at stake – bragging rights for the city of Cranston. The Falcons of Cranston West proved to be too much for the Cranston East Thunderbolts, rolling to a 14-3 victory in what is perhaps the best rivalry in Rhode Island high school sports.

The Falcons moved up from Division III this season and are holding their own in the Division II standings with a 5-5 record in only the third year for their lacrosse program, while the ’Bolts are still seeking their first win of the year and stand at 0-8 in Division III.

“This was a fun day and you always would like to beat your cross-town rival,” said West head coach Jared Zimmer. “We’re having a good season and are trying to get ready for the playoffs. It’s a lot more competitive being in Division II than III – we are still scoring a lot of goals, but all the teams in D-II can also score.”

The Falcons built a 6-0 first-quarter lead with two goals by Thomas Serabian and three goals by the state’s leading scorer, Trent Colford. Stephen Ohsberg would also aid his team with one of his two goals in the first quarter.

West went on to increase its lead in the second quarter with two more goals by Colford and two goals by Joseph Mee, giving the Falcons a commanding 12-0 lead at halftime. Colford, who has played lacrosse for over a decade, has over 30 goals on the year and would sit out the second half.

Trailing 14-0 in the final quarter, East’s Adam Almeida prevented the shutout with a goal. Jacob Rojek also tallied for the ’Bolts late in the fourth quarter.

“West is an excellent team and Trent Colford is a great player,” said East head coach Jim Creamer. “This was a major challenge for us, the vast majority of our players have not played lacrosse until high school and it is a new experience for them. Our accomplishments are small right now, but we are moving in the right direction and our younger kids are coming along great and things will get brighter. We have good kids who are doing all the right things and they represent the school well.”

Zimmer spoke about his team’s leaders.

“Trent Colford on offense and Mike Pierce on defense have held this team together all year with their outstanding leadership,” Zimmer said. “They have always been good players, but this year they are leading this team and the other guys are following. Colford is out to prove that it doesn’t matter what division he’s in and he’s proving that he is one of the best players in the state.”

West will visit the undefeated Prout School today at 3:45 p.m. and finish up the season with Coventry, a team that West has never beaten in its history. The Oakers are 3-0 overall against West.

“When you get to the playoffs everyone is the same, it is a one-game elimination and a three-game run,” Zimmer stated. “We have to tighten up on defense, on our clears and our man up.”

The ’Bolts have three games left and hope to enter the win column. They’ll face Burrillville/North Smithfield Co-op, Chariho and Westerly.

The Cranston West girls’ lacrosse team also captured the Cranston City Cup in a game played before the boys in a 15-4 win over Cranston East, improving its Division-II-North record to 7-6. That record is good for second place behind Mt. Hope.

Tarah Okolowitcz was named Most Valuable Player of the game for the Falcons, while Sarah Olson received the honor for East.

Okolowitcz led West with five goals, while Grace Ohsberg netted four and Haley Nardolillo and Jolie Rouleau scored three apiece. Yvette Goudiaby stopped six of the 10 shots she faced in net to earn the win.

Olson, Salma Flores, Cheyenne Tillison and Carissa Iacobucci each scored a goal for the ’Bolts, who fell to 3-10 on the season with the loss.