Submitted by Liz Griswold
(April 10, 2023) — The two-time defending Shoreline Conference Champion Haddam Killingworth High School Cougars Boys Lacrosse team began the defense of their title at home on April 6, 2023, defeating conference foe Cromwell Panthers 12 to 1. The game was a low-scoring affair through much of the first half, as the Cougars offense seemingly needed to shake off some rust to begin the season, while the defense stymied the Panthers attack.
Senior Alex Phipps broke the seal for the Cougars at around the eight-minute mark of the first period, banging one in from above the right crease, 1-0 HK. Cromwell answered moments later to knot things at 1-1, their only score of the day. Late in the first quarter, Freshman Spencer Savoy scored his first goal as a varsity player, with an assist from Phipps, 2-1 HK.
The Cougars capitalized on a man-up situation early in the second period, when Nolan Braren threaded a pass to Phipps above the right post for the score, 3-1 HK. At the 6:15 mark of the second quarter Phipps found the back of the net again, rolling right to left while using a nice pick from Aaron McLeod, 4-1 HK. Phipps then added to his hat trick with another goal, banging in an overhand cannon on the doorstep, 5-1 HK (assist from Savoy). The rust appeared to be wearing off for the Cougars offense.
Only seconds into the third quarter, HK struck again, this time Savoy corralled a loose ball from a scrum in front of the Cromwell crease and fired it home, 6-1 HK. Then at the 10:41 mark Savoy found a wide-open Gunner Howes dead center on the crease, 7-1 HK. A minute later Howes rolled right to left and found net again, 8-1 HK. Nolan Braren joined the scoring frenzy at the 7:23 mark in the third, launching a low-to-low rocket that found the bottom left corner of the Cromwell net, 9-1 HK (assist Phipps). Howes then found McLeod above the left post who bounced in a score, 10-1 HK.
In the fourth quarter Phipps tallied yet another goal, rolling from X and placing a dart in the top right corner, 11-1 HK. To close things out, a trio of freshmen combined on a goal, when Jameson Conte scooped up a loose ball, pitched it to a streaking Savoy, who then found Ethan Pitts on the doorstep for the one-timer, 12-1 HK.
As was the case last season for this Cougars squad, the defense was stifling, goalie Braden Civiello was a brick wall, and Cooper Pitts dominated at the face- off, winning 11 of 15 balls. North Haven awaits on April 8th.
Photos by Liz Griswold
