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# Aggressive approach on defense helped Coe-Brown boys lacrosse get win against Campbell
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/aggressive-approach-on-defense-helped-coe-brown-boys-lacrosse-get-win-against-campbell/
- Published: 2024-04-26T15:00:29.000Z
- Updated: 2024-04-26T15:00:29.000Z
- Description: LITCHFIELD - Tony DePalma knew that sitting back on defense Tuesday was not going work in the favor of his Coe-Brown Northwood Academy boys lacrosse team. If the Bears were going to pull out a win over Campbell, they were going to have to do so by putting pressure on the Cougars and hoping that woul
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, boys lacrosse, Campbell, Coe-Brown, Division III, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

LITCHFIELD - Tony DePalma knew that sitting back on defense Tuesday was not going work in the favor of his Coe-Brown Northwood Academy boys lacrosse team.

If the Bears were going to pull out a win over Campbell, they were going to have to do so by putting pressure on the Cougars and hoping that would force them into making uncharacteristic mistakes.

And if that was successful, Coe-Brown would have to take advantage of its opportunities on offense, specifically with a balanced attack. Regardless of who had an opening, it had to be taken.

The Bears were able to get the job done on defense early, and that opened the door for the offense late, as Coe-Brown pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 12-6.

"They played focused and determined, and that’s what we’ve been after," DePalma said. "We’re still in the single digits in regards to the number of times we’ve been on a full-sized field. Every step of the way, it’s been a little bit better, and we knew this was going to be a good day to put it together. Most of it came together."

While it was the first time Campbell allowed double digit goals in a game in its last 31 - a streak that dated back to May 5, 2022 - both coaches acknowledge the fact that the Cougars (5-1 in Division III) were down four starters on defense.

It was Coe-Brown's defensive effort might have been more impressive in the end.

Campbell's Cruz Sandquist finished with three goals, but the Bears (3-1) were able to hold the Cougars' other top offensive threat, Andrew Willnus, to just one goal. An early injury to Lucas Craig limited the senior to mostly faceoffs, subtracting another scorer from Campbell's offense.

"Campbell is a skilled team and coach (Josh) Knight does an incredible job," DePalma said. "We wanted to put them in a position that maybe they hadn’t been in yet, of feeling the footsteps every time they got the ball. We know their big guns, we know how good Willnus is, we know how good (Sandquist) is, and they’ve got more beyond that.

"We just wanted to be sure we were out on (their) hands, just letting them know, and it worked out. That’s team defense, too. Those guys can send a message and press out, but everybody behind them has got to be where they’re supposed to be."

Joey Allie, Cooper Copeland and Jason Pogorek led the way defensively for the Bears, and when Campbell was able to get through, goalie Jack Matson was there more often than not. The junior finished 11 saves.

"Jack Matson stood on his head a number of times," DePalma said. "He made some great saves and they missed the cage a couple of times, which we’ll take a little luck to win these games, too."

#### Opportunistic on offense

Six players had at least a goal for Coe-Brown, with Sam Frye leading the way with four.

The Bears had a 4-3 lead at halftime, and after Campbell tied it early in the third quarter, Coe-Brown went on a 4-0 run over a seven-minute stretch at the end of the third and into the fourth.

The Cougars got one back right away, but then the Bears responded 22 seconds later, and then put in three straight in a 1:29 span to take a seven-goal lead.

"Ultimately, just being opportunistic, if we could get a step, go to it and be the guy," DePalma said. "It worked out. When broken-situation opportunities presented themselves, we were able to jump on it. Initially, they were doing a good job of slowing down on our offense. In the second half, we were able to dictate a little bit more."

Ryan Matson (three goals) and Joseph Fenton (two) also had multiple scores while Tully Keefe, Garrett Ward and Gilbert Bean each had a goal.

#### Needed adversity

While there was frustration for the Cougars in a loss, Knight looked at it as an opportunity his team hasn't had the last couple of years.

Two seasons ago, Campbell was undefeated going into the playoffs, with just two games decided by three goals or less, and the Cougars lost in the semifinals. Last year, Campbell lost twice late in the regular season before falling to Hopkinton in the championship game.

"I think it’s good when you get into stressful situations, how do we react," Knight said. "You never want to lose, but it’s nice when you have these games and step back and see how you can respond and fix things for the next time.

"We saw how we handled it. Now we know. We’ve been calling it backyard lacrosse. It’s good to have those skills, but it’s not team offense, it’s not team defense. We’ve got to get away from backyard lacrosse when it’s getting crazy out there. It was a little eye opening and that was good."

#### Up next

- Coe-Brown starts a four-game home stretch, with all four games next week, on April 29\. Bishop Brady comes in on Monday, followed by Gilford on Wednesday and then back-to-back games against Campbell and Hopkinton on Friday and Saturday.
- Campbell returns to action by hosting Plymouth on Tuesday and Stevens on Wednesday before going to Coe-Brown.