Top Five Boys Lacrosse Games in 2022
With all COVID-19 restrictions removed for this spring, I had an easier time getting out to games this season. In all, I saw all or parts of 37 boys lacrosse games this spring. While there were many great games throughout the state this season, this list is the top five games that I saw in person.
No. 5: Plymouth 4, Laconia 3 (OT) (April 14)
This meeting during the first week of the regular season turned into a battle between goalies, with Plymouth's Jake Marcoux and Laconia's Cam Harriman coming up with big saves to keep it low scoring. The Sachems scored twice in the third quarter to tie it, and after a scoreless fourth, the game went to overtime. After chances by both sides, Brendan Marcoux ended things with a goal right before the final buzzer.
No. 4: Hopkinton 3, Trinity 2 (3OT) (May 6)
There are many reasons for a game to be considered for this list. Not only did this game need three overtimes to be decided, it was somewhere between bizarre and absurd. Hopkinton was coming off a 15-12 loss against Campbell. Trinity had lost to Campbell four days before, 19-8. So of course, Trinity led 1-0 at halftime and took a 2-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Two goals by Quinn Whitehead, including a man-down goal with 1:02 left, sent the game to overtime. Each team had manup opportunities in the overtimes, but it wasn't until Aidan Burns scored in the third OT to end it.
No. 3: Timberlane 10, Derryfield 9 (April 22)
Both teams came in undefeated, and after a 2-2 first quarter, Timberlane jumped out to a 6-3 lead at halftime. Derryfield came out in the second half, tied it in less than three minutes, and continued the run, outscoring the Owls 6-0 in the third quarter to take a 9-6 lead into the fourth. Timberlane came right back in the fourth, ending the game on a 4-0 run to get its first win over the Cougars.
No. 2: Nashua South 7, Pinkerton 3 (May 23)
It may not have been the prettiest game, but it was a big-time win for Nashua South, as the Panthers got their first win over Pinkerton since 1999 in this regular-season game. South got out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter and stretched it to 5-1 in the second before the Astros got within two goals before halftime. The Panthers held Pinkerton scoreless in the second half behind 20 saves from goalie Ethan Johnson.
No. 1: Exeter 10, Portsmouth 9 (May 7)
Exeter led 5-1 just 17 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Portsmouth hung in, started winning faceoffs and came back to take a 9-8 lead with 6:15 remaining in the game on a goal by Dom Maldari. Owen Williams tied it for Exeter with 3:26 remaining and Adam Neil had the game-winner with 39.3 seconds left, and the senior then made a key defensive play on Portsmouth's final possession to give the Blue Hawks the win.
