Portsmouth boys lacrosse gets bittersweet win against Hollis Brookline (video)

HOLLIS - Anyone in attendance for the Portsmouth High School boys lacrosse team's 12-8 win Tuesday night over Hollis Brookline saw just what Ben Purcell means to the Clippers.

Down a score just a little more than a minute into the fourth quarter, the senior had a hand in five of his team's six goals during a 6-0 run that flipped the game and had the Portsmouth sideline fired up.

Purcell had two of his team-high four goals and all three of his assists during that run, which started moments after he had implored his teammates to pick up the pace during the quarter break.

"Ball movement and movement off ball," Portsmouth coach Chad Vischer said of what changed in the fourth quarter. "We know that’s the case when we move. Ben is a big part of that."

But the good feeling that the run, and a hard-fought win, brought didn't last.

With 90 seconds left and the Clippers (12-5, No. 6 in the MerchSquared.com/NHHSSports Coaches Poll) trying to run out the clock, Purcell aggravated a shoulder injury that's plagued him all year and caused him to miss games early in the season.

The Portsmouth sideline was somber, if not distraught, after the game, seeing one of the team's senior captains leave early and in pain.

"This is going to be tough," Vischer said, "because he’s a kid that the rest of the kids love."

"It’s a lot of highs and lows throughout a season," HB coach Mac Martin said. "There’s going to be chaos in high school sports where you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow."

For three quarters, neither team knew what it was getting in this game. Portsmouth had chances throughout, but shots were either way off target or HB goalie Levi Mitchell was making key stops.

Neither team led by more than one goal through the first 36-plus minutes, and in most cases, whoever was down tied the game up quickly after falling behind.

Sawyer Bouvier and Henry Purcell each finished with two goals for the Clippers while Reilly Collins had a goal and an assist. Sam Biddle scored his lone goal off a faceoff to start the fourth-quarter run, tying the game just seven seconds after HB had taken the lead.

Gus Baker and Thijs Beelen also had a goal apiece and Kai Paterson (11 saves) and Nash Conklin led a defense that was without senior Masi Shone, due to illness.

"Our defense is our strength," Vischer said. "Kai played well. That’s a vastly improved team and (Martin) has done a great job. I thought their goalie was going to be a problem on their clears and he was excellent."

Mitchell finished with 15 saves while Noah Taylor had three goals and an assist and JP Torgersen had a goal and three assists for the Cavaliers (12-5). Bennett Torgersen, Vittorio Masoni and Sam Petrella also had a goal apiece.

"We came out and scored the first goal and competed," Martin said. "It’s about the steps of the program. Being here and competing, and that belief showed (Tuesday).

"They definitely flipped a switch. They scored a few goals without us even touching the ball. The compete level is what I’m proud of and they believe that we belong."