> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Pinkerton boys lacrosse opens season with thumping of Nashua South (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/pinkerton-boys-lacrosse-opens-season-thumping-nashua-south-video/
- Published: 2016-04-18T12:57:53.000Z
- Updated: 2016-04-18T12:57:53.000Z
- Description: If it felt like the Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team had possession of the ball for the majority of Monday’s season opener against Nashua South, it’s because the Astros did.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, Nashua South, Pinkerton, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

NASHUA – If it felt like the Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse team had possession of the ball for the majority of Monday’s season opener against Nashua South, it’s because the Astros did.

Pinkerton won all but two faceoffs and took advantage of South’s struggles clearing the ball to roll to a 17-4 win in Division I action at Stellos Stadium.

Nashua South’s Christian Lowell tries to slow down Pinkerton’s Chris Valentine.

The Astros got three goals each from Chris Valentine (assist) and Ryan Auger while James Tulley had two goals and two assists. Brett Datillo also had two goals and a helper while Nick Coombs also scored twice.

“It was a little rusty early on, but you expect that the first quarter of the first game,” Pinkerton coach Brian O’Reilly said. “We had good ball movement, we just weren’t finishing. They did a decent job with the zone inside, which is the right thing to do, it makes it hard to feed it inside. I was pleased with the way we played (Monday) in all phases.”

Where the Astros (1-0) stood out was on the faceoffs, as they were 20 of 22, with Datillo leading the way.

“Brett (Datillo) dominated on faceoffs, that’s to be expected,” O’Reilly said. “A faceoff guy is worth his weight in gold. If you’re getting the ball back every single time, you can overcome a lot of mistakes with that.

“He’s a complete player. He was our All-American last year, he was our leading midfielder in scoring, and was second on the team in goals. Brett knows how to put the ball in the net. That’s what he does and he can do it with both hands.”

South coach Bill Monsen told his players what to watch out for against Datillo, and it didn’t seem to matter.

“When you’re playing a kid like Brett Datillo, they’re playing make-it, take-it, there’s only so much you can do,” the coach said. “He’s a special player.”

South (0-1) got two goals and an assist from Collin Morrow and Sean Holland also had two goals while Nate Radin made 11 saves.

Holland and Radin are among five sophomores starting for South, and too many times, the Panthers’ inexperience caught up to them.

“I thought (Radin) came out hot and the defense came out flying around, and then for some reason, we lost our composure for two quarters,” Monsen said. “He’d make a great save, he might hit an outlet, and that guy would turn the ball over, and then they’d get another shot.

“It was the blind leading the blind at times. At the beginning, everybody was doing what they were supposed to do, and then all of sudden, I felt like it was helter skelter.”

Pinkerton got out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, but South hung around, keeping it a two-goal game on a score by Holland that made it 4-2 Astros with 10:14 left in the second.

But Pinkerton scored the next five goals to go up 9-2 and after the Panthers got one back, the Astros scored two in the final minute of the half, including one where Auger faked going high and then rolled the ball past Radin.

The Astros outscored the Panthers 5-0 in the third quarter to lead 16-3 going into the fourth, with running time in effect.