Timberlane boys lacrosse wasted little time against Oyster River-Newmarket

PLAISTOW - Ken Blaszka thought his Timberlane Regional High School boys lacrosse team started Monday's game against Oyster River-Newmarket with a purpose.

To others, it looked more like the Owls were shot out of a cannon.

Timberlane scored four goals in the first 2 minutes and 43 seconds of the game, tacked on three more before the end of the first quarter, and after scoring just three times in the second, put in four more in the first 2:15 of the second half.

That put the game into running time with almost all of the third and fourth quarters remaining in what ended up as a 17-8 win for the Owls.

"We came out on fire," Blaszka said. "We had a purpose, we knew what we were doing. I think we pumped them up with what we’re trying to do, our game, our style. We’ve got a bunch of guys who have played together for a while and it shows. Just get out there and get after it, so that felt good."

That's now back-to-back games where Timberlane (4-1, No. 7 in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll) has erupted offensively in the first quarter against a quality opponent. In last Friday's win over Hollis Brookline, the Owls led 10-1 after the opening frame.

"We came out flat, but they played really fast," Oyster River-Newmarket coach Ruppy Hailey said. "They played really physical. We had no answer for that and it just snowballed from the first play. We did things that typically we don’t do. We made mistakes we normally don’t. I don’t want to take away from anything they did. We just did not rise to the occasion and they outmatched us every aspect of the game."

It started from the opening faceoff, with Austin Charest scoring the first of his six goals just 58 seconds into the game. Landon Petry and Gary Shivell scored nine seconds apart and Rocco Psairis made it 4-0 a minute later.

During that opening salvo, the Bobcats (3-3) managed to win two faceoffs, but turned the ball over almost immediately. Oyster River-Newmarket didn't have a possession until almost five minutes were gone in the game.

"We knew that (Hailey) was going to have them ready," Blaszka said. "They were going to have a plan for what we do. For us, it was about doing our adjustments and executing.

"We’ve got a good crew. We talk about keeping it real simple. Know your personnel on our own end. We’ve got some guys that are pretty slick and can do some slick things, and then we’ve got some hammers that are trying to pound through stuff."

Marathon Man

Charest led the offense's big day, while it was Michael Savage and Jack Condon doing the most damage in the win over Hollis Brookline, with each scoring four goals. Eight players had goals in that win.

Petry, Condon and Savage each finished with three goals against Oyster River-Newmarket, while six guys found the back of the net.

"They believe in each other, they love each other, and they pass the ball," Blaszka said. "We know what we need to do and it starts with believing in each other. We just have to keep improving."

It starts for the Owls with Charest, who aside from the scoring, had the best performance of the week so far for Timberlane. The senior played in the win over HB on Friday night, then ran a marathon on Saturday before playing in Monday's game.

Against the iron

The Bobcats are six games into the season, with their three losses coming against Derryfield, Portsmouth and Timberlane - the top three Division II teams in the NHHSSports Coaches Poll.

While the outcome in those games wasn't desirable - Oyster River-Newmarket was outscored by a combined 48-16 - it's not something Hailey is too worried about at this point in the season.

"We’re still very young," Hailey said. "I told them, I’m not overly concerned. We did not answer what they brought to the table.

"That’s not indicative of how we can play. I’m not saying their would be a huge difference in the result. They just took us to school. But I know we’re capable of playing better than that."

In the other three games, the Bobcats handed Windham, a final four team from a year ago, and Alvirne each their first losses of the season. And Oyster River-Newmarket held Kingswood to just four goals; the Knights have averaged almost 12 in their other four games.

"I know how we’re capable of playing, but my job as the coach now becomes making sure they play more consistent," Hailey said. "I even thought (Monday), we were generating chances. We’ve just got to get more consistent. That’s an indicator of how we’re still young."

Up next

• Timberlane goes on the road Wednesday for an 11 a.m. game at Souhegan.
• Oyster River-Newmarket will regroup before hosting Goffstown at 4:30.m. on Friday.