The Fighting Irish had a bit more fight in them this time around.

Bainbridge High’s varsity boys lacrosse team found themselves suffering their worst defeat of the season Tuesday, April 10, in their second outing against O’Dea this year. The final score had the visitors up 16-4, dropping the BHS season record to 7-4 overall.

It was also the team’s first conference loss (4-1).

Previously, the worst beating Bainbridge sustained was a six-point deficit (against Columbine and Sunset, both non-conference matches).

On Tuesday though, O’Dea came with something to prove.

The Seattle private school had been defeated by the Spartans late last month 9-8 — and they clearly were not happy about it. They scored first, almost immediately, and led throughout Tuesday’s match, out-working the island squad at nearly every turn and quickly building a dispiriting advantage on the board.

“They just out-hustled us,” said Spartan spokesman, assistant coach Jacob Hayashi. “It was close last time. Spring Break probably didn’t help. I think that was part of it; one practice and then a game is kind of tough.

“They didn’t take a week off, so maybe that was part of it.”

The Spartans got some good looks, Hayashi said, but the shots didn’t fall right.

“This is just kind of a rough one,” he said. “We’re doing great; they’ve been looking good. This is just kind of a weird bad game and we’ll move on from here.”

The Spartan scoring effort was led by Merritt McMahon, who put up three of the team’s four goals throughout the night.

Max McLeod managed to chip in one.

In the net, Dawson Friers went 8-for-24, an impressive performance, Hayashi said, considering O’Dea’s tenacity.

“I think they were getting a lot of good, wide-open shots. Tough saves,” he said.

The assistant coach said the team was determined not to let the slip nag at them, as the loss was more damaging emotionally than statistically.

“I think this will help us reset and just get back to what we’ve been working on and try to come back,” he said. “I think just practice and getting back into the routine of playing and everything is what we kind of need.”

The Spartans will next play on the road, a non-league match against Juanita on Tuesday, April 17 at the Kirkland Lacrosse Center. BHS will not pay at home again until 7 p.m. Friday, April 27, against Seattle Prep.

“That’s another tough one,” Hayashi said of the upcoming bout with the Panthers. “They’re pretty good.”

The Spartans, too, are looking pretty good, currently sitting in the top spot in the 3A Metro Division 1 standings.