Hollis Brookline boys lacrosse clinches playoff spot with win over Nashua North (video)

NASHUA - There was a lot for the Hollis Brookline High School boys lacrosse team to play for Friday against Nashua North.

So when the game got close, the Cavaliers found another gear and took control.

After the Titans battled back to tie the game midway through the second quarter, HB retook the lead for good 19 seconds later and continued to add to the rest of the way, as the Cavs beat North 16-7 at Stellos Stadium. The win secures a spot for HB (7-9) in the Division II playoffs, which get underway on May 30.

Ryan Olson led the Cavs with six goals and an assist while Matt Passamonte and Jon Kroposki added three goals and an assist apiece. Mike Atlas, Tim Sulin, Quinten Wimmer and Chas Dean also had a goal each while Garrett Moloney came up with some key saves.

"We were sloppy," HB coach Rich MacDonough said. "It’s a hotter day than we’re used to and we’ve got a couple of guys hurt, so I think we were out of rhythm just going in.

"Garrett came up with some very large saves. In key moments in the first half, he kept the ball out of the net when plenty of other goalies might have let one in. Turning defense into offense is key and I think on our clears, we were more poised for the most part. That’s a mark of kids getting a little more of a lacrosse IQ."

Troy Bottari led North (2-13) with three goals, including the hundredth of his high school career, which came early in the third quarter and made it a three-goal lead for HB. Chris LeRoux, Colin Manning and Stephen Vertigans also had a goal apiece for the Titans, who had just 15 players dressed for the game.

"The guys played with a lot of heart," North coach Rod Redman said. "We only showed up with 15 guys and we lost another two to injuries. They kept playing, they played a full game, and that’s been the story of this season. Guys with a lot of heart, but just not quite enough to get over the hump."

Olson scored with 8:35 left in the second quarter to give the Cavs a 5-3 lead, but Vertigans and Manning scored back-to-back goals to tie the game with 5:49 left in the half. HB won the ensuing faceoff and raced down the field, going back on top on a goal by Kroposki just 19 seconds later.

Olson and Wimmer tacked on two more goals before halftime to make it an 8-5 game, Olson opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the third quarter to make it a four-goal game.

"That was our goal, to see if we could the faceoff and get out hot, improve our groundball game," MacDonough said. "That helped a lot in the second half, and we started protecting the ball better."

HB pushed the lead to five, 12-7, going into the fourth quarter, and outscored North 4-0 the rest of the way.

The Cavs' win assures them the No. 11 seed in the D2 playoffs, as they'll play on the road in the preliminary round on Wednesday.