Bishop Guertin boys lacrosse puts together complete game in D1 semifinal win over Londonderry

EXETER - The Bishop Guertin High School boys lacrosse team was able to score in different ways, and when the Cardinals didn't have the ball, they managed to keep Londonderry off the scoreboard.

All around, top-seeded Bishop Guertin's 16-4 win over No. 5 Londonderry in Tuesday's Division I semifinal at Bill Ball Stadium was a complete performance.

Brennan McInnis, Sean Cameron and Brian Cameron each had three goals for the Cardinals (20-0) while Sam Prunier had two goals and Drew Hailey, Kyle Fisher, Nate Binette, Cam Fagan and Nick Hughes added a goal apiece. The win sends Bishop Guertin to the title game for the 14th year in a row, where it will face Pinkerton for the sixth straight year.

"I thought we were really solid in all areas," Bishop Guertin coach Chris Cameron said. "Defensively we were very good. We were putting the ball on the turf all night. Justin Todd had the most takeaways he’s had this year. We were aggressive, but under control, and then we were making saves.

"They went to a straight shut off (on Brian Cameron) and when he got it, we was seeing other people. We were good on defense, good in transition, and good on six-on-six execution. It was pretty much a complete effort."

The Cardinals got goals from seven different players in the first half, and for the second straight playoff game, led 7-0 after the first quarter.

But unlike Saturday's quarterfinal - a 20-1 win over Hanover - Bishop Guertin's defense was forced into action in the opening frame. Londonderry's James Toomy was able to win a couple of faceoffs in the first quarter, but the Lancers (12-7) were unable to capitalize.

"We were able to get some possession in the first quarter, but we weren’t able to do anything with them," Londonderry coach Roger Sampson said. "Their defense was aggressive, they play out in space well.

"We knew what we were up against. Everybody in the state knew what we were up against. They’re a juggernaut. We just wanted to come here and battle hard and leave everything out on the field. They gave everything they had and I’m proud of my boys. To come in here, knowing what you’re up against, and give everything you’ve got, you can’t ask for more. I’m proud of them."

Londonderry, which was making its first final four appearance since 2013, got two goals from Nate Andrews and a goal apiece from Anthony Federico and Mike McAlister.

McAlister got the Lancers' first tally with 1:40 left in the first half, but by then, Bishop Guertin was already up 9-0. Sean Cameron and Brian Cameron - the senior's first of the game - each scored in the final minute of the first half to make it 11-1 at the break.

"They run a lot," Sampson said. "You can shut down Brian, and face-guarded him, and we did a good job shutting him down in the beginning. He didn’t have any goals until late in the first half, but his middies did. They come flying down and they catch on the run and they burry the rock."

Fisher and Brian Cameron scored 41 seconds apart early in the third quarter to get the lead to 13-1 and start the running clock. The Cardinals led 15-1 going into the fourth.

Bishop Guertin will try for the program's 10th championship - and eighth in the last nine years - at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Pinkerton at Bill Ball Stadium.