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# Pinkerton cruises past Nashua South to reach D1 boys lacrosse semifinals (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/pinkerton-cruises-past-nashua-south-to-reach-d1-boys-lacrosse-semifinals-video/
- Published: 2022-06-05T19:45:10.000Z
- Updated: 2022-06-05T19:45:10.000Z
- Description: NASHUA - No one on the Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse sideline was happy with the team's performance in its regular-season loss to Nashua South, and the Astros had a lot of time to think about it. With 11 days between the last regular-season game and Saturday's Division I quarterfinal, Pinkerton di
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys lacrosse, Nashua South, Pinkerton, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

NASHUA - No one on the Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse sideline was happy with the team's performance in its regular-season loss to Nashua South, and the Astros had a lot of time to think about it.

With 11 days between the last regular-season game and Saturday's Division I quarterfinal, Pinkerton did everything it could to make sure it didn't happen again, and it didn't.

The No. 6 Astros started fast, held off any momentum that the No. 3 Panthers tried to gain throughout the day, and finished on the offensive end on the way to a 15-3 victory over South at Stellos Stadium.

Ryan Lynch had five goals and an assist and Joey Gallo scored three goals and dished out four helpers as Pinkerton (11-8, No. 4 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) got out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter and kept South scoreless after halftime.

Curtis Michaud finished 19 saves and Cole Frank was perfect on 21 faceoffs as the Astros also got two goals each from Matt Feole and Michael Uber (one assist). Colby Gagnon and Matt Morrison added a goal and an assist each and Riley Spellman returned from injury after missing Pinkerton's final 3 1/2 games to score a goal.

After scoring just three goals against South (14-5, No. 6) in a loss on May 23 - Pinkerton's first loss to the Panthers since 1999 - improving the offense was what drew most of the Astros' focus.

"We knew we needed to move the ball," Pinkerton coach Steve Gaudreau said. "Their goalie is tremendous. Last game, he stood on his head, he made 20 saves and we shot poorly. We felt like our offense was stagnant.

The emphasis the last four days was moving the ball, having (South goalie Ethan Johnson) to have to react and move a little bit, as opposed to just standing there and waiting. We did have a few hiccups but as opposed to the last time we were here, we were able to understand what we needed to do and make adjustments within the game."

Pinkerton jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the opening quarter and led 6-1 on a goal by Gallo just 35 seconds into the second quarter.

But South was able to cut the lead down to three moments later, getting goals from Griffin Johnson and Nate Campbell (two goals) to make it 6-3 with 9:11 remaining in the first half. The Astros needed just 37 seconds to cut off that momentum, as Lynch scored, and Gallo add another before the end of the half to make it 8-3 at the break.

"We knew they would come in pretty fired up," South coach Bill Monsen said. "We were anticipating that. We knew we wouldn’t start with possession often, so we had to play good defense. Unfortunately, unlike the last time, we got caught ball watching and we weren’t physical. We allowed them to have their hands free and they got some point-blank shots to start. Once they got rolling, it was tough to play catchup."

The Panthers had stretches in the second half where there were opportunities to get closer, but Pinkerton's defense stepped up, led by Michaud.

"They’re really good," the junior goalie said of South's offense. "We focused on keeping them low, keeping them to their off hand, and once they get their hands free, it’s my job to make a save. We executed as a whole. The offense got it settled and we countered what they were doing."

Pinkerton took an 11-3 lead with 5:32 left in the third, but South was able to keep possession for most of the rest of the quarter, thanks in part to a 30-second manup situation. But Michaud came up with four saves during that stretch and the Panthers hit two posts.

Lynch made it 12-3 early in the fourth and the Astros scored a couple of late goals, two of which during a two-minute, locked-in manup opportunity.

"Those guys are playing with a little jump, they’re getting by their man," Gaudreau said of his offense. "Our attack is stepping up and finishing. What was so disappointing about (the regular-season loss) was that was the one I felt like we didn’t compete. They’ve got some really good players. It was just a better effort."

That effort, combined with Pinkerton's playoff experience, made for a long day for South.

"They executed and we didn’t," Monsen said. "They came in pretty fired up and we just didn’t match their intensity. In the playoffs, it’s a different atmosphere and a different game, and they’re more experienced. The game is played different, it’s called different. Things that might not happen during the regular season happen in the playoffs.

"In 10 days, they looked like a different team and we weren’t able to match it."