In a dramatic and championship caliber game, the No. 1 seeded Haddam Killingworth High School Boys Varsity Lacrosse team defeated No. 2 seeded Valley Regional 11-9, capturing the school’s first ever boys lacrosse Shoreline Conference Championship. HK finished the season a gaudy 13-5, 13-1 in conference.
Despite the Cougars being in control and leading for the entirety of the contest, HK fans would not and could not exhale until the final whistle — given the recent history of the rivalry. For those privileged enough to have witnessed the two regular season contests between these teams, the drama of this latest and final tilt came as no surprise. HK and Valley split during the regular season in two highly competitive and narrowly decided bouts. While the Cougars seemed in control for most of those games as well, each ended in dramatic fashion. One resulting in HK’s only conference loss on the season. In the first game, HK rallied from a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to win. In the second, HK netted a miraculous last-second goal to force a sudden-death overtime, before falling to Valley in the extra period. As we said then, if these teams were to meet in the postseason it would be one for the ages. They did… and indeed it was.
Ethan Wright
Yes, the action on the offensive side of the field was filled with exciting and skillful play from the Champion Cougars (more to come). But we would be remiss if we did not first acknowledge the incredible defensive effort put forth by this HK squad. Junior goalie Ethan Wright saved his best effort of the season for last, putting forth a masterful effort in stopping 11 shots, several at critical junctures in the game when momentum was on the line. In addition, as has become the norm for this championship squad, d-poles Matteo Piacenti, Aiden Griswold, Nate Marciniec, and Matt Mohammed swarmed the Valley attack. When loose balls dropped LSM Sam Young and defensive middies Dan Larosa, Charles Maxwell, and Lee Harwood were there to scoop them up.
It should also be noted that for those varsity players who may not have seen time on the field yesterday, for whatever the reason, they share in this success as well. A championship team is only as good as the caliber and competitiveness of its practices, and everybody on this team contributed throughout the season to the competitiveness of the Cougar practices. Having witnessed several first-hand this season we can attest. As they say hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. EVERYONE on the HK team worked hard, and they all share in this amazing achievement.
Ryder Wink
The scoring action began quickly, just 46 second into the contest, when middie Aiden Coleman fed attack Nolan Braren for the quick strike from the right side of the crease, 1-0 HK. Midway through the period Valley equalized with a fast-break goal in transition, tying the game 1-1. Then with 30 seconds left in the first quarter Coleman dodged from the top right of the cage and fired a strike into the upper left corner, 2-1 HK.
Early in the second, during a man-up advantage, middie Cooper Savoy dropped it to Coleman who fired a step-down burner for another score, 3-1 HK.
On the next possession Valley used another fast break to close within one, 3-2 HK advantage.
HK’s Savoy then rolled left to right 20 yards in front of the cage for a fantastic lefty overhand shot, giving the Cougars another two-goal advantage, 4-2 HK.
As part of the notable defensive effort we mentioned, at the 8:43 mark in the second quarter HK was forced to play with two men down, and yet they prevented Valley from scoring during that period. Championship caliber defense.
With 4:13 left in the second Savoy found N. Braren cutting down the right side of the crease for the winner, 5-2 HK. Savoy then dodged out front and fired a doorstep bouncer, giving HK the 6-2 advantage with two minutes left in the first half.
In the third quarter Coleman got HK rolling again with a smooth dodge up top, putting his defender on his hip and burying the left-hander, 7-2 HK.
But Valley would not go away quietly. With 6:36 left in the third the Warriors snuck one by Wright to close within four, 7-3. Moments later, in a man up situation, Valley found the back of the net again, 7-4 HK. Cue the hand wringing in the HK bleachers.
With 2:29 left in the third Savoy shook free from his defender with a silky spin above the left post for his third score of the night, 8-4 HK. Goalie Wright then made two incredible and crucial back-to-back stops around the 1:29mark of the third to maintain the four goal Cougar advantage. With possession gained the HK coaching staff then wisely called a timeout. End of the third. The Cougar fan base exhales…
Early in the fourth period, after bouncing back from what appeared to be a bad ankle injury in the third period, attack Ryder Wink from X found a cutting Cory Phipps for the one-timer on the doorstep, 9-4 HK. But it wasn’t over…
With 10:18 left in the fourth Valley scored on another fast break, narrowing the Cougar lead, 9-5. Fair enough. Then with 8:53 and a man-up advantage, Valley scored again, 9-6. Okay….Minutes later, at the 6:18 mark and in another man-up situation, Valley notches another to close within three, 9-7. At this point the HK fan base started to wonder (as did the players likely) — hadn’t we seen this movie before?
It turns out we had not. The HK Cougars decided to close out with a script more to their liking. A Championship script. On the next possession, maintained thanks to yeoman’s work from Cal Braren and Sam Young at the X, Cory Phipps found the back of the net with an assist from N. Braren, 10-7 HK. The lead was preserved.
Then with 3:19 left in the game, Aiden Coleman found his teammate Cal Braren on his right side. He could see him in his peripheral vision, of course, but implicitly he knew he was there. Indeed, he was there all along. Like in many games and over many years. Just like he’d been 12 years before, when they started as youngsters in HK youth lacrosse with sticks taller than they were. Yep, Cal Braren was at his side. Aiden slipped him the ball, Cal fired the 15-yard step-down hammer, and it was all over. 11-9 HK. At long last Cal, Aiden and the rest of the HK team would be Champions.
