Late run lifts Derryfield boys lacrosse past Portsmouth to third-straight D2 championship

EXETER - Perhaps the biggest key for the Derryfield School boys lacrosse team in the first half of Saturday's Division II championship game was that there was never any panic.

For the Cougars, it was just another day in the office.

Despite watching a scoreless streak that started in the semifinals stretch to almost three full quarters, No. 1 Derryfield kept going about its business against No. 2 Portsmouth.

And once the scoring started, it was hard to stop, as the Cougars scored all of their goals in the final 29-plus minutes on the way to an 11-6 win over the Clippers at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter. It's the third D2 title in a row for Derryfield (20-0) and the 53rd win in a row for the Cougars.

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"We wanted to come out and score some quick, but that’s the nature of this group," Derryfield coach Chris Hettler said of how his team handled the start. "They’re very business-like. They almost approach it in a professional way. They don’t like the fake rah-rah. They find a way to weather the storm and finish plays."

Gunnar Senatore and Jon Maclean did the most finishing for the Cougars, as each had three goals. Senatore had Derryfield's first two of the game, scoring two goals in 19 seconds, the second of which tied the game at 2-2 with 5:13 left in the first half.

Connor Glosner and John Anderson added two goals and an assist each while Alex Neville came up with three assists, all in the second half, including helpers in transition on back-to-back goals by Glosner and Eric Mayer (goal, assist) in the third that gave Derryfield a 5-3 lead.

"Once Alex Neville came down the field, he was getting in the offensive action and it really just got everyone on their feet," Glosner said. "Gunner Senatore, this was one of his best games all season. He was in the game, he was moving his feet."

For Portsmouth (17-3), it was the second year in a row that finished with a loss to Derryfield in the championship game. Ollie Allen and Ryan Groleau each had a pair of goals for the Clippers, whose only defeats this season came against the Cougars and Division I Londonderry.

Cole Brams had two assists for Portsmouth and Dom Iafolla and Hugh MacDonald added a goal apiece.

Brams dominated faceoffs early, winning six of seven in the first half and eight of the first nine overall. And when Derryfield was able to get possession in the first quarter, the Cougars struggled against the Clippers' zone defense.

"We want to play fast, and credit Portsmouth, they had a game plan," Hettler said. "They came out and played a zone, tried to slow things down on the offensive end. They were dependent on Cole to win faceoffs and try to grind the game down to the pace they wanted to play."

Senatore's two quick goals changed momentum for Derryfield, and Anderson scored with 30.7 seconds left in the first half to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead at the break. Brams won the faceoff to open the second half and Groleau scored 54 seconds in to tie the game.

Derryfield went back in front, 5-3, but Allen answered with two goals in 1:38 to tie the game at 5 with 3:36 left in the third.

Portsmouth won the ensuing faceoff, but turned the ball over and Anderson put the Cougars back in front, 6-5. The Clippers got the next faceoff and against turned it over, and Mayer found Maclean for a goal with 5.7 left in the third to give Derryfield a two-goal lead again.

"When it got to 5-5, it still was like, these guys are winners, they’re going to find a way to make some plays," Hettler said. "Once we got to seven, I could see it in some of the eyes of the guys. That was a great defensive stand in the fourth quarter."

Maclean tacked on two more goals to open the fourth and Senatore scored to make it 10-5 Derryfield and the Cougars' defense was able to hold Portsmouth to one goal over the final 15-plus minutes to secure the win.