Freshman Ronan McNamara torched Milford for seven goals Tuesday to help the ConVal boys’ lacrosse team seal a come-from-behind win and remain undefeated on the season.
Milford jumped out to an early lead and was up two goals on the Cougars before coach Terry McNamara tweaked the defense to slow the Spartan attack.
“We made some defensive adjustments in terms of our slide package,” coach McNamara said, “as well as getting a long stick on their key offensive midfielder.” After a slow start, keeper Nick Squatitro calmed down, coach McNamara said, making some stunning saves and quarterbacking the clear for the Cougars.
ConVal played out the end of the first half conservatively before coming out in the second with renewed intensity. The freshman attacker McNamara wouldn’t be denied, and he quickly turned the deficit into a lead, working in tandem with freshman Seth Fowler, who assisted him three times. Fowler was able to notch one of his own on the nicest play of the game, when long-stick midfielder Bryson Boice scooped the ball in front of his own net and went coast-to-coast before flipping it over to Fowler for the score that put ConVal up 6-4.
“Boice, Broden Frosch, and Everett Benham all had some key ground balls which really helped turn the tide through the middle of the game,” coach McNamara said.
Logan Burnham helped out the Cougars on defense by absorbing a point-blank Milford shot right in the abdomen.
The Cougars took it slow in the fourth quarter, and by the time Milford increased their defensive pressure, it was too late, and ConVal held on for an 8-4 win.
ConVal (3-0) is at Milford Thursday and hosts Goffstown Saturday.
“Goffstown is looking to be one of the better teams in Division II after Derryfield,” coach McNamara said, “so we will have our hands full on Saturday.”
ConVal 15, Keene 7
The Cougars exploded for 15 goals on Monday against Division I Keene Monday afternoon to pick up their first win of the season.
Attackers Julia Donovan, Madelynn Plourde and Hayden Kaltsas had a hat-trick apiece, and midfielders Ella Dishong and Anna Taylor had two each.
Emily Donovan lead the defense, coach Derek Sorbello said, causing turnovers and knocking down passes.
The JV team won as well, 5-4.
On Tuesday, the girls celebrated Sorbello’s birthday by shooting lacrosse balls at a pinata.
ConVal (1-2) is at Keene Wednesday and hosts Milford Thursday.