The defending Division I champion Pinkerton Academy boys’ lacrosse squad began the defense of its 2015 title in excellent fashion last week with wins in its first three matches.
After pounding the Nashua South Purple Panthers in the Gate City Monday, April 11, coach Brian O’Reilly’s Astros throttled Salem by double digits three days later and then proved to be three goals better than a tough Bedford bunch two days after that.
In the 18-2 trouncing of Salem in Derry on Thursday, April 14, the locals led by 5-2 after one period and went on to score the next 13 goals unanswered.
Chris Valentine potted five goals for the victorious hosts, James Tulley was good for four goals and one assist, Brett Datillo tallied two goals and assisted one one, and Sean Donahue, Colin Philippon, Drew Strople, Ryan Auger, and Liam Rooney each scored once. Tom Sweeney contributed two assists to the powerful PA offensive effort.
O’Reilly had three goalies take turns between the pipes of the PA net in the match, with Alex Sturgess, Matt Wolenski, and Cam Leborgne each registering one save.
On Saturday, the Astros propelled a fast start into an 11-8 defeat of the tough host Bedford High Bulldogs.
Pinkerton went up 6-1 in period one and grasped a 7-3 lead at the half.
The Astros’ advantage sat at 9-4 going into the final stanza, and Bedford’s comeback effort in the fourth quarter produced four goals but fell short of a full rebound.
PA goalie Sturgess had a big game for his side, contributing 14 stops to the victorious effort. By comparison, Bedford keeper Sean Tierney only had to produce six stops.
Valentine led the locals’ offense with three goals; Strople potted two, Tulley and Datillo each snagged a goal and a helper, and single goals were added by Auger, Nick Coombs, Cam Richard, and Philippon. Sweeney contributed an assist.
The Pinkerton laxmen then came into this week with a busy slate, facing games at Billerica, Mass., on Wednesday, April 20 after Nutfield News press time, at home against Manchester Central’s Little Green crew on Thursday, April 21, and then at the arch-rival Londonderry High Lancers on Saturday the 23rd.
Pinkerton lacrosse player Tom Sweeney looks at his options during his team’s lopsided win over the Salem Blue Devils last week. Photo by Chris Pantazis
