Bishop Guertin boys lacrosse picks up win over Pinkerton

DERRY – For three quarters, what is usually one of the best high school boys lacrosse matchups in the state looked like anything but that.

Bishop Guertin got up on Pinkerton by as many as 12 goals in the second of Monday's game before the Astros scored six straight to make things interesting. But the Cardinals had enough to hold off the charge and won their ninth game in a row with a 17-9 victory over Pinkerton.

Charlie O'Brien led the way for Bishop Guertin (10-1) with four goals, while Nick Prunier and Gage Sevigny added three goals and an assist each. Alex Astarita had a goal and three assists and Mike Carluccio and Tim Hinrichs each scored twice.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the first quarter, and held Pinkerton (6-3) scoreless in the second, as Bishop Guertin was up 11-2 at halftime.

"It was one of those games that we play for, the challenge that Pinkerton gives us, especially playing here," Bishop Guertin coach Chris Cameron said. "We were focused and we came out, our energy was great. Every possession, we were getting the shot we wanted."

Bishop Guertin was also getting stops on defense, with Cam Hult shutting down Pinkerton's Todd Biletter and Colin Casey making 12 saves.

Biletter finished with two goals and an assist while James Tulley led the Astros with three goals and a helper. Brett Datillo added two goals and an assist and Mason Barchard had a goal and an assist.

"We fell behind quickly but we preached on the sideline don't let up," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "We played clean, hard, aggressive, right to the very end, and as a coach, that's really all you can ask for from your kids. We had that run in the end to make it respectable, but right now, they are at a different level."

The Cardinals went up 15-3 with 2:34 left in the third quarter, but the running clock never had a chance to kick in, as the Astros scored 40 seconds later to get the lead back down to 11.

That goal started a run of six straight by Pinkerton, as the Astros won five of six faceoffs and had possession for most of the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter.

"I'm proud of the way the kids did not give up," O'Reilly said. "That's what you always take. I told the kids at halftime, you take the game in segments, instead of the overall. What can we do, because there are things we still need to do a lot better, especially ground balls."

Closing out games was something the Cardinals have focused since almost blowing a lead last month against Needham (Mass.), and on Monday, they were able to do that.

"We've been focusing on that, when we have teams down, to step on them and keep them down," Cameron said. "We did that for three quarters. That's what happens when you let your intensity and focus go away."