Hopkinton boys lacrosse rides momentum past Campbell to D3 title (video)

EXETER - Momentum played a big part this season for the Hopkinton High School boys lacrosse team.

When the Hawks caught some late in the regular season, they never lost again. And when they grabbed it late in Sunday's Division III championship against Campbell, they rode to a victory.

No. 5 Hopkinton scored three goals in less than two minutes late in the fourth quarter to break open a tie game, as the Hawks grabbed a 7-4 win over No. 2 Campbell at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. The win gives Hopkinton, which lost in last year's final to Laconia, its fifth D3 title and first since 2019.

"As the season progressed, our offense got better and better, and I think the same thing happened in the game," Hopkinton coach Deacon Blue said. "We were able to possess more and more and keep it out of their hands. They’ve got a potent offense and some real scorers, so we knew we had to possess."

The Hawks (13-5) did just that, especially in the second half, as sophomore Ozzie Rosenholm won 12 of 15 faceoffs, including all but one after halftime. Both teams struggled at times to hang on to the ball, combining for 52 turnovers, against defenses that were two of the best in D3 this season.

Lincoln Wilson had two goals to lead the Hawks while John Despres scored what ended up as the game-winner with 4:01 left in the game. Patrick Buss and Merrick Chapin added goals after that to give Hopkinton a three-goal lead, while Shane Smith and Nick Martel also scored.

Colby Boissey finished with seven saves, all in the first half, including a couple in key spots that could have changed the game's momentum.

"He’s an amazing goalie, an amazing athlete and I can’t say enough good things about him," Hopkinton senior defender Steven Reddy said of Boissey. "It’s crazy that it’s his first year. I think it helped having a veteran defense to protect him. He came a long way throughout the season, and some of those saves, he would not have made (earlier)."

The biggest came in the second quarter, with Hopkinton hanging on to a 2-1 lead, but Campbell was able to get an opportunity in transition. Cruz Sandquist had an open look to Boissey's right, but the junior made a kick save to keep the Hawks in front.

"We had the opportunities, but their goalie played a great game and it was just a part of finding the right spot," Campbell coach Josh Knight said. "It’s a game of momentum. We had a couple of brain farts and they capitalized. Not getting top side, not playing the angles correctly, and we just got beat."

Andrew Willnus led the Cougars (15-3) with three goals and Sandquist also scored, while Ryan Guerrette finished with nine saves.

Willnus scored with 7:47 left to tie the game at 4, and the teams traded chances after that. Guerrette came up with a stop after Hopkinton won the faceoff, and Campbell got a look at the other end, but missed the net.

A cross check on Martel with 5:51 to play gave the Cougars a manup opportunity, but Campbell was only able to get one shot off on the advantage, missing the net, before turning the ball over with 5:14 to play.

The Hawks were able to run out the rest of the penalty, and after the worked the ball around, Despres scored to make it 5-4. Campbell's Scott Hershberger was called for a slash before the goal, giving Hopkinton a manup opportunity.

Rosenholm won the faceoff and Buss scored 39 seconds later to make it 6-4. After another Hopkinton win on the faceoff, Campbell's defense came up with a stop, but couldn't clear the ball, and Chapin scored with 2:38 remaining for a 7-4 lead.

"Our team feeds on momentum," Reddy said. "The second there’s a goal, the second the boys are happy, it just starts something every time. The goals keep on coming. I think people started to think this is the championship and we’re going to win."