The defending Division I champion Pinkerton Academy boys’ lacrosse squad made quick and pretty painless work of several challengers last week, thumping both the Nashua North Titans and the arch-rival Londonderry High Lancers by double digits to keep its 2016 record unblemished.
The 9-0 academy crew began this week with a colossal test in a rematch of the 2015 D-I championship match against the likewise-unbeaten Bishop Guertin Cardinals in Nashua on Monday, May 2.
But before then the Astros demolished a 4-3 Nashua North contingent by a 17-4 score in Derry Thursday, April 28, racing out to a 13-0 lead in the first half en route to the rout. Each side netted four goals in half number two.
Chris Valentine paced the potent PA attack with a six-point performance (four goals, two assists), Ryan Auger also bagged six points on three goals and three helpers, James Tulley was good for two goals and an assist, and Brett Datillo tallied twice.
Tom Sweeney and Zach Currier each notched a goal and a helper for the victors, and single goals were contributed by Drew Strople, Shawn Tewksbury, Terrell Hicks, and Liam Rooney.
And the Astro force grabbed its second blowout of the LHS Lancers in a week with a 17-2 trouncing of the 2-4 opponent in Derry last Saturday, April 30.
Pinkerton left Londonderry scoreless until the second half and grasped commanding leads of 5-0 after one quarter, 12-0 at the half, and 16-0 after three periods.
Valentine and Sweeney both managed four goals and one assist, Tulley snagged three goals and three assists for a big six-point match, and Auger and Datillo both bagged two goals and assisted on three others. Strople and Adam Morin each claimed one goal for the victorious hosts.
Alex Sturgess and Matt Wolenski combined for nine saves in the PA net.
Then on Monday it was on to a rematch of the 2015 title contest with Guertin in Nashua.
This was probably the most anticipated boys’ high school lacrosse contest in any division in New Hampshire so far this spring, and the defending state champs from PA managed to squeak out a slim, 15-13 victory in front of a packed Stellos Stadium crowd that night.
BG entered the night with a 10-0 record and Pinkerton was at 9-0, so somebody knew their record was going to get blemished.
And the game’s finish was dramatic, with Astro Ryan Auger busting a 13-13 tie with a little less than two minutes to go in regulation to give his side a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. That key tally was set up by Chris Valentine, and it was Auger’s fifth of the night to go along with three big assists.
James Tulley potted an insurance marker in the final minute of play to get to the 15-13 final.
Brett Dattilo scored four times for the victors, Tulley had three goals, Valentine scored once and assisted twice, and Carter Young and Nick Sturgess each contributed one tally. Goalie Alex Sturgess made 10 big stops in the tight win.
The battle was tight from start to finish, with the score knotted up at 2-2 after one period, host Guertin had a slim 7-6 lead at the half, the Astros leading 11-9 going into the last period, and both sides potting four shots during that decisive final stanza.
