For a couple of guys who played midfield and defense for the Gardiner Area High School lacrosse team, brothers Kolby and Kody Peckham have done quite well as attackmen in college.

Both had big days on Saturday and finished the season as their teams' leading scorer. Kolby, a sophomore at Thomas College in Waterville, scored three goals as his Terriers fell 17-8 to Castleton State in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals.

Last year's NAC Rookie of the Year, Kolby finished with 40 goals in 13 games this season.

"He has a great shot and he lets the game come to him," Thomas coach Tom Sheridan said. "He's pretty fast and knows how to dodge well."

Kody, a freshman at St. Joseph's College in Standish, scored four goals as his Monks finished the season with a 15-11 win against Lyndon State. He finished the season with 15 goals despite only playing defense during his high school career.

"Kody showed up and said he had some interest playing with a short stick, and we had quite a few defensemen already," St. Joe's coach Mike Edgar said.

"I said 'Yeah, I'll try it,' " Kody said. "The biggest difference is having a shorter stick. As much as I like attack, I miss defense. I'll show up next season with my attack stick and if Coach needs me on defense . . . "

Playing their first year of varsity lacrosse, the Monks finished at 2-9. About a third of the team, Edgar said, had not played the sport before.

"We're doing well for a first-year program," Kody said. "We're starting to look like a real solid lacrosse team."

The Monks, who will try to join the NAC next season, played Thomas this season, losing 10-7.

"It was fun," said Kolby, who scored three goals to his brother's one. "They gave us a game."

Thomas, in its fourth year as a varsity program, has improved each season, finishing this one at 7-6. Despite his sophomore status, Kolby was elected a captain.

"The kids definitely look up to him," Sheridan said.

Both brothers began playing lacrosse in the seventh grade. Kody weighs about 30 pounds more than his older brother and proved a natural on defense, while Kolby played midfield and controlled the game, according to Gardiner coach K.C. Johnson.

"He relies on strength, I rely on speed more," Kolby said.

Kolby is studying sports management while Kody is enrolled in the liberal studies program at St. Joe's. He plans to switch to business, but first he'll have to attend basic training as part of his Maine National Guard training.

"I'll miss the fall semester," he said.

There's another lacrosse playing Peckham in the wings, Kory, a sophomore at Gardiner. Male members in the Peckham family have names starting with K, including dad Kyle and relatives Keith, Kevin and Kenneth.

"My husband's side of the family all started with K," mom Patricia explained, "and all the traditional ones were taken."

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com