By Mike Kelly.
The Haddam Killingworth High School Boys Lacrosse team defeated Old Saybrook on April 14, 2022, with a final score of 8-3.
The defending 2021 Shoreline Conference Champion HK Cougars boys lacrosse team pushed their 2022 season record to 3-1 Thursday evening, defeating conference foe Old Saybrook 8-3. After a sloppy few minutes early on for both teams, nerves eventually settled, and the Cougars drew first blood when middie Alex Phipps got free above the right crease for the score, 1-0 HK. Old Saybrook responded quickly, however, tying the game 1-1.
Early in the second quarter, middie freshman Gunnar Howes fired in the first goal of his high school career from the top right post, giving HK the 2-1 lead, with an assist from senior attackman Corey Phipps. Howes then returned the favor to the other brother Phipps, finding Alex alone for the overhand step-down scorcher, 3-1 HK. Late in the second, middie Charlie Maxwell, rolling right to left above the cage, turned and fired to push the HK lead to 4-1, assist from A. Phipps. Minutes later, having got a taste of scoring glory, freshman Howes banged another one in from dead center 20-yards above the crease, giving the Cougars a 5-1 lead at the half.
Perhaps envisioning a comeback, the Rams began the third quarter with a quick strike in the first few minutes to close within 3 of the defending champion Cougars. HK answered shortly thereafter however, during a man-up advantage when attackman Aaron McLeod found middie Nolan Braren free above the left post. Braren fired a wicked sidearm that likely took paint off the goal post as it burned into the top left corner of the net, 6-2 HK. Old Saybrook again attempted to capture some momentum with a late goal during a man-down situation, closing the gap to 6-3 HK. Moments later the brothers Phipps snuffed out any chance at a Rams comeback however, when Alex found Corey cutting above the right post, who banged it in for the 7-3 HK lead. Old Saybrook would not challenge again.
In the fourth period, LSM Jack Insalaco, who played a very active game and swarmed over the entirety of the field throughout the day, assisted C. Phipps with another score, pushing the HK lead to 8-3. Phipps took the pass, felt the defender on his hip and deftly spun away from the contact to bang home the winner.
It should be said that the Cougar defense, as it has pretty much every game so far this season, played with enormous poise, energy, and engagement. Goalie Braden Civiello was again a wall on the back line, swallowing up several solid shots from the Rams attack during man-down situations, thus preserving the HK lead. D-poles Aidan Griswold, Nathan Kelly, Matteo Piacenti, and Sam Young were active and everywhere, hoovering up loose balls, while d-middies Cooper Pitts and Jake Mckenzie held down the middle of the field.
All in all a great team effort.
Photos by Liz Griswold.
