By Mike Kelly.
On Thursday night, May 6, 2021, the Haddam Killingworth High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse team traveled to conference foe Morgan School and notched their sixth victory of the year, defeating the Huskies 11-6. The Cougars are now 6-0, matching their best start to a season in 10 years. This was the Cougars second victory over Morgan this season, having defeated them 10-4 on April 13th at home. While the victory was decisive in the end, for long periods the game was closer than the final score would indicate. At halftime Morgan led 3-2. It was not until late in the fourth quarter that HK finally put the game away.
Morgan scored first with a goal early in the first quarter, but HK responded quickly. Senior Attack Ryder Wink curled deftly from X on an inside roll to find the back of the cage. On the next possession HK went up 2-1, when Wink dropped a dime to Senior Midfielder Aidan Coleman cutting at the top of the crease. Midway through the second the Huskies scored the equalizer, and then quickly went up 3-2 after HK was penalized with two men down.
Later in the third quarter Wink again rolled from X to find the back of the net, tying the score 3-3. Shortly thereafter Senior Midfielder Cal Braren put the Cougars ahead 4-3 with a side arm to the lower right corner of the net.
On the next Cougar possession Wink hoovered a loose ball and quickly found Coleman cutting above the crease for another quick strike, putting HK up 5-3. The Cougars then capitalized on a man-up possession to push the score to 6-3. C. Braren added another score late in the third to make it 7-3, and at that point it seemed as though the Cougars had the game in hand.
Morgan refused to go away quietly, however, and answered with a man up goal of their own late in the third, making it 7-4. HK’s Midfielder Coleman responded with a stick fake and shot on the doorstep to put the Cougars up 8-4, ending the period.
Things got interesting in the beginning of the fourth quarter, as Morgan rallied and scored two consecutive goals quickly, edging within two of HKs lead, 8-6.
That was as close as Morgan would get the rest of the way, however. On the next possession midfielder C. Braren fed attackmen Wink for a score, Wink’s fourth of the night, putting the Cougars ahead 9-6. Wink then paid it forward, providing an assist to Freshman Midfield Cooper Savoy who found the back of the net with some fancy stick work. HK led 10-6. Midfielder Coleman then closed out the win with a silky swim dodge and goal, his fourth of the night, giving the Cougars the 11-6 victory.
The win truly reflected a solid team effort, including a vocal and supportive bench. Activity and energy away from the ball was as significant as were shots on goal. Players hustled to maintain possessions and recover ground balls. Midfielders Daniel Larosa and Charles Maxwell each recovered four loose balls, D-poles Jack Insalaco and Sam Young each recovered four looseballs, D-pole Matteo Piacenti recovered five loose balls, and D-pole Aiden Griswold recovered two. Goalie Ethan Wright made three saves, one in a critical stretch when Morgan was seeking to take momentum. This HK team is fun to watch.
Photos by Marci Miarciniec.
