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# Portsmouth boys lacrosse bounces back to get win over Hollis Brookline
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/portsmouth-boys-lacrosse-bounces-back-to-get-win-over-hollis-brookline/
- Published: 2018-04-24T20:02:24.000Z
- Updated: 2018-04-24T20:02:24.000Z
- Description: HOLLIS - There were reason for the Portsmouth High School boys lacrosse team to not be at it's best Monday against Hollis Brookline. The Clippers were coming off Saturday's rematch of last year's championship game, but despite a one-goal loss to Derryfield, were feeling pretty good about themselves
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, boys lacrosse, Hollis Brookline, Portsmouth, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

HOLLIS - There were reason for the Portsmouth High School boys lacrosse team to not be at it's best Monday against Hollis Brookline.

The Clippers were coming off Saturday's rematch of last year's championship game, but despite a one-goal loss to Derryfield, were feeling pretty good about themselves and the way they played.

And on the first day of spring vacation, the buses hit traffic on their way to Hollis, causing Portsmouth to show up five minutes before the scheduled start time.

Despite that, the Clippers were able to overcome a slow start and answered every run by the Cavaliers in the second half to hold on for a 12-7 win over HB in a Division II contest.

"Adversity is part of the game," Portsmouth senior Ollie Allen said. "It happens. I think what this game really shows is our mental state and our chemistry and what we’re able to do without even a warmup. To come out here and play as a team speaks to how solid we are as a unit. Hollis Brookline is consistently a great team and we’re always expecting a battle. We came in with the right mentality."

Allen finished with three goals and an assist and Cole Brams, who was battling an injury suffered against Derryfield, had four goals and two assist while Jack Parker scored twice and added two assists. Ryan Groleau, Andrew Madden and Luke Squire also had a goal apiece and Tyler Merriam and Hugh MacDondal each recorded an assist while Nolan Pafford made five saves.

Portsmouth (4-1) led by as many as six goals in the second half before HB (2-3) was able to cut the lead to three twice, but each the Cavs rallied, the Clippers answered.

"It was a trap game," Portsmouth coach Chad Vischer said. "You come off the high of Derryfield and you’ve got to play a very good team who is a semifinalist. We got stuck in traffic and we could tell the boys were down. Ultimately, I’m happy we won the game. I’d like to see improved play. They’re a good team."

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the game's first 2:15, Portsmouth's offense went stagnant and HB was able to come back and tie it on goals by Matt Passamonte and Tim Sulin. But with 1:21 left in the first quarter, Parker scored on a strong move to the cage to give the Clippers the lead, and Portsmouth outscored HB 4-0 in the second quarter to take a 7-2 lead into halftime.

Brams made it an 8-2 lead with 6:59 left in the third, but after the Clippers took a penalty 19 seconds later, Ryan Olson scored his first of the game. Another goal from Passamonte made it 8-4 with 2:41 left in the quarter and Joe MacDonough cut the lead to three by scoring with 12.8 seconds to until the fourth.

But Brams won the ensuing faceoff and found Parker right away for a goal with 1.8 seconds remaining in the third to make it 9-5.

"I think that was key and it speaks to our heart as a team," Allen said. "We’re all close on and off the field. We want to win and don’t want to disappoint each other. That little boost, whatever we can find to pick each other up, I think that’s what will carry us through."

Allen scored early in the fourth to make it 10-5 and Portsmouth appeared to be in control again, but goals by Olson and Passamonte just 22 seconds apart made it 10-7 with 3:57 to go. The Cavs had a couple of possessions the rest of the way but couldn't break through, and the Clippers scored twice in the final minute to wrapup the win.

"As the goals started flying in, I think our offense got a little selfish going to the cage instead of looking for that third or fourth pass," Vischer said. "I would like to improve that. That’s what we’re trying to do. The fourth quarter was better. That’s a good team that’s well-coached. This is a tough place to win."