By Mike Kelly
(April 28, 2023) — The two-time defending Shoreline Conference Champion Haddam Killingworth High School Cougars boys varsity lacrosse team captured a solid home win on April 25, 2023, defeating conference foe Valley Regional High School 12 – 7. With the win the Cougars record moves to 7-1 midway through the season. The team’s only loss thus far came courtesy of North Branford, for which HK may seek some redemption when the Thunderbirds visit on April 27, 2023.
As has been the case several times this season, the Cougars got off to a somewhat inauspicious start to begin the game, quickly finding themselves down two goals to none after several quick strikes by their opponent in the opening minutes. HK responded when senior Nolan Braren found some space rolling right to left above the crease and fired it past the left post, 1-2 Valley. Unfortunately, on the next possession the Warriors intercepted a pass on the clear and ran it back for another easy goal, 1-3 Valley. Adding insult to injury, the Cougars then faced a two-man down disadvantage, allowing yet another goal, finding themselves with a three-goal deficit, 1-4 Valley.
Finally, with 51 seconds left in the first, Freshman Spencer Savoy found Senior Alex Phipps on the doorstep for the quick strike, 2-4 Valley. The Cougars began to show signs of life. Early in the second period Phipps put another one on the board, this time dodging from 15 yards above the left post, assisted by Junior Cooper Pitts, 3-4 Valley. Moments later Braren cradled a pass from Savoy at X and punched it in, and just like that, the game was tied 4-4. HK would not relinquish the lead again.
On the next HK possession Freshman Finn O’Hanlon found Phipps dead center 15 yards above the cage for the overhead hammer, 5-4 HK. Then at the 6:33 mark O’Hanlon reprised his assist performance, this time finding an open Braren in the same spot for the same result, 6-4 HK.
With 4:50 left in the second, Braren, hovering 10 yards above the right side of the crease, fired a cross-field pass to an open Phipps above the left post, who delivered a high-to-low burner, 7-4 HK. Midway through the third period the Cougars found themselves in a man-down situation, but the defense held. HK took advantage on the next possession when O’Hanlon, dodging right to left from 10 yards out, found the back of the net, 8-4 HK.
With less than two minutes left in the third Valley tacked on two quick goals, one during a man-up advantage, to close within two, 8-6 HK. The Cougars quickly smothered any momentum the Warriors might have been building with two quick strikes of their own.
First, Pitts took a clear coast-to-coast for the score, 9-6 HK. Then on the very next possession Pitts shared the wealth, finding Savoy 15 yards out for the nasty sidearm burner, 10-6 HK. At the eight-minute mark in the fourth it was Phipps again, this time rolling right to left and firing home a sidearm winner dead center crease, 11-6 HK. Valley answered with 5:38 left in the game, but it was a little too little too late, 11-7 HK. The Cougars quickly answered on a fast break play when Freshman Savoy dished to Freshman Pitts on the doorstep, 12-7 HK. The future looks bright. North Branford next.
Photos by Liz Griswold
