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# Pinkerton boys lacrosse used more than defense to slow down Bishop Guertin
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/pinkerton-boys-lacrosse-used-defense-slow-bishop-guertin/
- Published: 2017-05-03T12:00:11.000Z
- Updated: 2017-05-03T12:00:11.000Z
- Description: NASHUA - The typical response to seeing one boys lacrosse team shutout another in a half is to assume that team played some good defense. While Pinkerton Academy was stellar on defense in the first half of Monday's 7-5 win over Bishop Guertin, it wasn't just that end of the field that the Astros con
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bishop Guertin, boys lacrosse, NH High School Sports Insider, Pinkerton, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

NASHUA - The typical response to seeing one boys lacrosse team shutout another in a half is to assume that team played some good defense.

While Pinkerton Academy was stellar on defense in the first half of Monday's 7-5 win over Bishop Guertin, it wasn't just that end of the field that the Astros controlled in the first 24 minutes.

Alex Sturgess had a great first half, making 11 of his 12 saves, and Ryan Albrecht helped keep Bishop Guertin's Brian Cameron off the scoreboard.

But the Pinkerton offense had as much to do with holding the Cardinals without a goal in the opening two quarters, maintaining possession for long stretches by taking shots and getting the ball back. The Astros took 19 shots in the first half, and while just two of those found the back of the net, Pinkerton was able to follow them up.

"(Possession) played a big role," Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "Between facing off, clearing and riding, I thought our team played very, very well. Our offense possessed the ball. It was really a complete game."

Bishop Guertin coach Chris Cameron estimated that Pinkerton (9-0) had the ball twice as much as the Cardinals (6-1) and there were multiple factors. The Astros had a slight edge in faceoffs, but Bishop Guertin's inability to repeatedly clear the ball led to turnovers.

"We didn't clear the ball very well and we knew that's what we needed to do," Cameron said. "I thought we would have been more ready for the pressure. We had turnovers from our long poles, not our offense. On offense, we were fine. That had a lot to do with not having the ball.

"Once you fall behind and you don't have the ball, it forces you to press. They can't play stall ball from behind. Their game plan was to get the lead and take their time. They didn't beat anybody one-on-one from attack. It was some of their middies and they ran good sets. They were catching us ball-watching."

When the Cardinals were able to get the ball on offense, the Astros were able to execute their game plan. Albrecht shadowed Brian Cameron and help came from Kyle Fortier whenever the junior made a move to the goal.

"As soon as he got to the goal line, they were looking to double underneath, so that took away some things," Chris Cameron said. "We probably had five or six shots early that they made some great saves. When you let a goalie get hot early, that happens. I give Alex Sturgess a lot of credit for keeping us off the board."

Pinkerton also focused on taking away the passing lanes whenever Cameron had the ball. He finished with two goals and an assist.

"Brian (Cameron) is a complete player," O'Reilly said. "He doesn't just shoot, he looks for feeders, and there just wasn't a lot going on."

After trailing 2-0 at halftime, Bishop Guertin got two quick goals to open the second half to tie the game. But there was no panic from Pinkerton, as Tom Sweeney scored the second of his two goals 2:12 after the Cardinals tied it.

Mason Drouin made it a two-goal game 1:23 later and Bishop Guertin was never able to get any closer.

"The thing about good shooters, they shoot for the corners," O'Reilly said. "It keeps missing and keeps missing, but if you shoot in the middle, the goaltender will save on you all day long. That's what we do, we shoot for corners, and sometimes you're dead on and sometimes you're not."

While the teams have met in the final in each of the last four years, and five of the previous six, in all but one of those years (2014), the team that lost in the regular season went on to get revenge in the title game.

"You can't tell much by one game," O'Reilly said. "It really matters how you answer the bell when challenged and we are not resting on our laurels."