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NORTH SMITHFIELD – It’s hard to make an early April matchup something people will remember forever, but what happened on Wednesday night was an exception.

The boys lacrosse game between Lincoln and North Smithfield started as a matchup between two undefeated Division IV teams and ended as a game everyone who attended won’t soon forget. There were as many overtimes played as goals – not including the two that were waved off during the extra sessions – in a game that finally ended when Northmen freshman Landon Hebert scored 77 seconds into the fifth OT, keeping North Smithfield undefeated with a 3-2 win.

“I am so sore,” said North Smithfield’s Nathan Gravel. “This game is a rivalry game. Honestly, I’ve been wanting to get this team out of the way for so long.

“At the end of the game I was so relieved we got that last goal. It was awesome.”

“I’m exhausted,” Hebert said. “Halfway through I started cramping. I ran out of water, I had my parents get me water. I’ve never been this tired before.

“It was so fun.”

The big question heading into the game was just who was the early-season favorite in Division IV this season. It ended with everyone finding out exactly what the overtime rules are for high school boys lacrosse.

With similar styles of play – suffocating defense, offenses that are almost painfully patient – no one expected to see a boatload of goals between the Division IV leaders. Lincoln freshman Luke Richards scored twice in the second quarter – a bona fide binge the way the teams were playing – and nobody batted an eye at only two goals in the first half of a lacrosse game.

When North Smithfield managed to tie the game in the second half – both goals coming from Nathan Gravel – it also seemed about right.

“We never once thought we were going to lose,” Hebert said. “We knew we could come back. We had high hopes we could come back, but it was just hard.”

“After that first one went in, that little hockey shot I put in the net, we just picked up momentum,” Gravel said. “We were all hyped the whole entire game and it was just overall good energy.”

When regulation ended with the scoreboard reading 2-2, an official walked over to the press box and instructed the scoreboard operator to put four minutes on the clock. Someone from the stands shouted “when does the game end.”

The ref glanced over and deadpanned “when someone scores.”

It was a pertinent question and answer for two teams that managed just four goals in four quarters.

Lincoln thought it had the game won twice. The Lions scored in the first minute of the first overtime, but the goal was immediately waved off because a player was in the crease.

The call in the second overtime wasn’t quite as simple. Richards ripped a shot that looked like it went in. It was called in. The Lions celebrated. North Smithfield players collapsed in disbelief Fans literally got out of their seats and began to walk to the parking lot.

North Smithfield goalie Karter Chartier was waving maniacally at the officials, pleading that the ball didn’t get by him and into the net. The ball was tangled in the and the officials were able to remove it from the outside rather than in. They checked the net for holes that would have allowed the ball to escape and when none were found, reversed the goal. Fans returned to their seats and the players continued to play.

The quality of play deteriorated as the game dragged on. Division IV rosters aren’t loaded with depth and both teams were gassed at the end of regulation, only getting more tired as the game continued after a scoreless second, third and fourth overtime.

Lincoln and North Smithfield exchanged sloppy possessions over the periods, but both teams had their opportunities. Chartier came up with big saves, Landen Priesing did the same for Lincoln.

Finally, with 1:17, Hebert put an end to the madness. The freshman was waiting for an opportunity when one presented itself. Hebert fired, the ball hit the twine – for sure between the pipes this time – and the game, finally, was over.

“I saw I had a shorty on me, the middle was open so I just switched from my left to my right,” Hebert said. “I’m a righty, that’s my strong hand, so I just cut down and ripped at it.

“My eyes were closed when I shot. I didn’t know it was in until I heard screaming.”

The loss is simply that for the Lions, who suffered a tougher one last spring in the Division IV title game. Lincoln won’t be deterred by the defeat and sees some good in what happened Wednesday night, despite the result.

“A lot of this is mental. It’s not all physical – in five OTs you have to stay locked in,” Lincoln’s Noah Desmarais said. “Both teams were going through hardships right here but at the end of the day we’re going to have to ice up, we’ve got practice [Thursday] and Rogers on Monday.”

Wednesday’s loss gives the Lions some motivation. Some of their young stars – Richards is a part of Lincoln’s talented freshman class – were hit with their first bout of adversity. The schedule is about to get tougher, but the Lions will be ready and very much be looking forward to May 14, when they get to host North Smithfield in the rematch.

We were both undefeated going into this,” Lincoln senor Noah Desmarais said. “NS was looking at us, they’re commenting on our Instagram, they’re worried about us, we’re worried about us, but at the end of the day they won the game and there’s not much we can say other than we’ll see them again.”

Remaining undefeated is cool for North Smithfield, but undefeated isn’t the goal this spring. Wining the last game is. The Northmen have come close to winning a title, but the program still doesn’t have one to its name.

Wednesday’s win should help show them they have what it takes.

“It’s a huge confidence builder,” Hebert said. “We have Scituate on Friday, away, we’ve seen the scores for their games, but we’re ready.”

“That gives us so much momentum. We just beat the team that beat us last year in the semifinal game. That was the one hump we needed to get over,” Gravel said. “Now I think we’ll be able to get through the rest of the teams.

“We just need to keep working hard in practice keep fighting in hard and that’s it.”