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# Defense learning on the job for Pinkerton boys lacrosse
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/defense-learning-on-the-job-for-pinkerton-boys-lacrosse/
- Published: 2018-04-28T17:00:30.000Z
- Updated: 2018-04-28T17:00:30.000Z
- Description: The Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team was in good shape heading into this season at perhaps one of the most important positions on the lacrosse field. But while Alex Sturgess was back for his senior year in goal, the Astros had to replace all three starting defenders around the All-American. Wh
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, NH High School Sports Insider, Pinkerton, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

The Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team was in good shape heading into this season at perhaps one of the most important positions on the lacrosse field.

But while Alex Sturgess was back for his senior year in goal, the Astros had to replace all three starting defenders around the All-American.

While no one has risen to the level of lockdown defender, Pinkerton has a good rotation of five or six players who have turned in a stellar performance so far this season.

"We don’t have a No. 1 defenseman right now," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "We actually have (five or six) that we can put out at any time. We lost all three of them (starters). They’re new, but they all played last year. They were just the second-tier guys. They played during the summer and they’re all the same."

The trio who started against Souhegan - Cam Gagnon, Dom Zirn and Matt Newman - have been joined by John Holland, Jake Seccarecio and Nathan Landry to give Pinkerton a defense that has more than held it's own so far this season. Thursday's win over Souhegan moved the Astros to 6-0 in Division I, and in those six games, they have allowed an average of 4.7 goals, giving up no more than eight in a game.

After giving up two early goals to the Sabers in a 14-4, the Astros then went three full quarters without allowing another goal, and even then, the final two scores came after Pinkerton had started going to its bench.

"They’ve got good sticks, they’ve got good speed, they’ve got quickness, and they play defense well," O'Reilly said. "What we’re missing is the experience factor because they’re all first-year starters. As every game goes by, they get better and better."

Experienced or not, Souhegan coach Keith Bertrand felt Pinkerton's defense was as good as it has been in the past.

"They’re well-coached and they have very good players," he said. "As much as you try to replicate that for the guys in practice, that’s one thing. Once you get on the field it’s a completely different game. It took us a while to get used to that."

Pinkerton will learn a lot about its defense in its next two games. The Astros will host Medfield (Mass.) at 5 p.m. on Sunday and then welcomes Bishop Guertin to town on Monday at 5 p.m. Medfield (4-3) is averaging 14.1 goals per game this season, while the Cardinals (7-0) have scored an average of 16 goals.

"We might have a challenge coming up this weekend and Monday," O'Reilly said. "We’ll see what it looks like. If it’s not good, then we’ll make whatever adjustments we need to make. Right now, we’ll see what we’ve got."