Thomas Barker (15) wins a first quarter face-off. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Aiming for their fourth consecutive win to start the 2021 season, Lincoln-Sudbury traveled to Needham on Saturday for a clash between two unbeaten Division I heavyweights. The Rockets (3-1, 3-0) entered Saturday’s tilt with the Warriors (5-0, 2-0) still without having surrendered a goal through three games.
Lacrosse is often described as "a game of runs." This was exactly the case in the first half on Saturday at Memorial Field. Needham began the game on a 3-0 run, thanks to a pair of goals by Cam Hickey and one from senior captain and Ithaca-committed attack-man Peter Nowlan (four goals). The Warriors esponded with a 5-0 run, with goals coming from Collin Murphy (Denison), Hayden Donley (Lehigh), two from Andrew Toland (Endicott) and Van Tanguay.
After the 5-0 run by L-S, the Rockets countered with two goals in 16 seconds, thanks to a man-up goal from Nowlan and a rip by Bryant-committed attack-man Nick Pisano off of transition, tying the game at five. A lefty bomb on the run by David Herlihy in the final minute of the half gave the Warriors a 6-5 lead at halftime.
The third quarter served as the game’s turning point as L-S began the half on a 5-0 run, with goals coming from Donley (two), Jack Napier, Ryan Berkel and Zach Lucchini. The run gave the Warriors a commanding 11-5 lead entering the fourth quarter. Nowlan was able to put home a pair late in the fourth but it was too little, too late for the Rockets as Lincoln-Sudbury came away with the 11-7 victory.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
