Nashua South boys lacrosse hangs on for win over Souhegan (video)

AMHERST - Drew Fleury was trying to do a little bit of everything.

With the Nashua High School South boys lacrosse team in the tricky spot of needing to either kill some time, or score another goal, Fleury managed to do both, running around with the ball before getting to the cage and scoring.

The goal gave the Panthers a five-goal lead with under five minutes to play, but also gave the senior his 100th career goal, and it was just enough of a cushion for South to pick up an 11-9 win over Souhegan on Monday in a Division I game.

Fleury finished with five goals, despite having Sabers' middie Riley Lawhorn on him for most of the game, while Griffin Johnson had three goals and an assist. Jaden Murphy added two goals and an assist and Nate Campbell had a goal and two assists while Aidan Walsh was 17 of 23 on faceoffs.

"I’m really proud of the way we played (Monday)," South coach Bill Monsen said. "It’s not easy to come to Amherst and get a win. Souhegan is always tough and especially tough at home. They came out in a zone and locking off Drew. We saw that the last game against Merrimack.

"We made some adjustments. Unfortunately for us, it takes us too many times of learning the wrong lesson until we figure it out. I’m really proud of the fact that we kept grinding and working through it until we figured it out."

It was a 1-1 game for most of the first quarter, thanks largely to South goalie Ethan Johnson, who finished with 18 saves. Many of those stops came early, while the Panthers (6-5, No. 9 in the NHHSS Coaches Poll) were trying to figure out Souhegan's defense.

"Ethan has changed the game so many times for us," Fleury said. "He came out huge, making big stops on doorstep shots. We wouldn’t be where we are without. He’s done a great job leading and carrying our defense."

The one Saber that Johnson couldn't seem to stop was Souhegan's Alex Karpawich, who finished with six goals, three of which came in the fourth quarter, including two in 27 seconds that made it an 11-8 game with 2:15 to play. Walsh won the faceoff following that goal and the Panthers were able to kill off enough time at the end.

Connor Holland added a goal and two assists for Souhegan (4-10) while Tony Garrant and Cole Manning also scored. Nathan Fritz made 11 saves.

"I thought we competed pretty hard," Souhegan coach Keith Bertrand said. "We were down (five) and fought back and cut it to two. Things clicked in the fourth quarter a little too late. We fought to the end."

South broke the 1-1 tie with 2:06 left in the first quarter on a goal by Griffin Johnson and Fleury added two more just 38 seconds apart midway through the second to make it 4-1 Panthers. The teams traded goals for the rest of the half and South took a 6-3 lead into the break.

Campbell made it 7-3 just 32 seconds into the third quarter, and after Karpawich cut it back to three with 3:47 left in the frame, Fleury scored 20 seconds later. Griffin Johnson added another with 7.4 seconds to go before the fourth to make it 9-4.

Souhegan started to climb back in in the fourth, as Garrant made it 9-5 just 40 seconds into the quarter, and Karpawich made it a three-goal game 55 seconds later. But Murphy answered off the ensuing faceoff and Fleury's milestone goal with 4:45 to play gave the Panthers n 11-6 lead.

"Little bit of both, with the timing and the situation, I wanted to get that," he said. "What’s most important is winning the game. It was killing clock, getting the win, and the opportunity just presented itself.

"When I am being locked off, it’s good to let the other guys have it. Jaden, Griffin, Nate, they’re all guys who can take it to the net. I have trust that they can go to the goal and score. Late in the game, when we needed one, I have belief in my own abilities to take it to the net."

The Sabers weren't done, as Karpawich got them back within three on his back-to-back goals.

"He’s a tough matchup," Monsen said. "He’s physical, he’s a lefty, he wing dodges with physicality, to the top side without stopping. He’s a great finisher. It’s incredible. Every time, too, you’re like you’ve got to body him, but it’s tough to body someone who is that big and mobile."

South controlled the faceoff, and after a Souhegan penalty, were able to run off more than 90 seconds. The Sabers got the ball back with 42.5 remaining and Manning scored with 17.4 seconds to play.

The Panthers close out their regular season with games against Nashua North on Tuesday and Thursday, while the Sabers won't play again until their preliminary-round game with Concord on June 3.