Thomas Barker (15) wins a first quarter face-off. Photos by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Tuesday night’s showdown against Wellesley was more than just a chance for No. 14 Needham to complete the regular season sweep of the Raiders (7-3, 7-3).
Coming off a bitter 9-5 defeat to undefeated Natick (10-0) last Thursday to surrender the Bay State Conference regular season title, it was response time for the Rockets (8-2, 8-1). With the inaugural Bay State Conference Tournament just a week away, Needham needed to secure a victory on Tuesday in order to assure itself one of the top two seeds.
Christian Grosso opened the scoring for Wellesley 2:14 in with a dodge from X and a low bouncer at the left side of the cage. Kyle Piersiak tied the game at one on the man-up for Needham moments later with a step-down cannon.
Despite Needham carrying the majority of the play early on, Wellesley goalie Chase Wesley quickly became the story of the first half, registering eight of his 12 saves on the night during the first two quarters. Salve Regina-committed midfielder Connor McNaughton helped break a seven-minute scoring drought by scooping up a ground ball on the outside of the box on a failed clear by Wellesley. McNaughton fed a pass to Pisano for an easy dump-in at the net-mouth with just 14 seconds to play in the quarter, giving the Rockets a 2-1 lead at the end of one.
Wesley continued to shine early in the second quarter, turning aside consecutive shots by Cam Hickey and Charlie Cohen to keep the game at 2-1. Unfortunately for Wesley, Needham’s Jimmy Bonasia proved to be equal to the task with a series of stick saves on Emmett Lyne.
“He was huge today for us,” said Pisano on Bonasia following the win. “Every time we needed a save he stepped up.”
Ruben Melkonian finally broke a five-minute scoreless drought with 7:08 to play in the half, finishing a feed from Ithaca-committed senior captain and attack-man Peter Nolan at the net-mouth to make it a 3-1 game. Sean Reilly quickly added to Needham’s lead on the man-up, stinging home a right-handed step-down off a feed from Pisano to give the Rockets a 4-1 edge. A highlight reel save by Wesley on Matt Carbone on a quick-stick just before the buzzer kept the game at 4-1 at halftime.
In the opening minute of the first half, Pisano took over. Following a restart from behind the cage, Pisano beat his man from GLE, dodged to his left and finished with a bouncer to make it a 5-1 game. Nowlan added to the lead moments later off of a feed from Hickey on a fast break, pushing the lead to 6-1. Pisano completed the hat trick just 1:14 later, dodging from X and firing home a shot down low off the right post and in to make it a 7-1 game and force Wellesley to a timeout.
“Nick is an important part of our team, obviously, from the scoring and offensive standpoint,” said Needham head coach David Wainwright on Pisano following the game. “He’s been able to do that for a long time for us. When he entered the program we knew he was going to be a force. He’s a special guy in that aspect.”
Following the break, the Raiders finally got into an offensive rhythm, with two goals in 14 seconds by Michael Grosso and Emmett Lyne to cut the deficit to 7-3. Wellesley’s run was short-lived, however, as a lefty bouncer by McNaughton in the final minute of the quarter gave Needham an 8-3 lead after three.
Pisano wasted no time staying hot early in the fourth, feeding a beautiful pass out in the alley to Barker at the crease for an easy dump-in to make it a six-goal game at 9-3. Carl Callahan fired home a goal on the man-up to trim the deficit to 9-4, but another from McNaughton on the man-up, followed by Pisano’s fourth of the night with 2:57 to play, sealed it.
“We just needed this win,” said Pisano following his four-goal/three-assist performance in the 11-4 win. “We moved the ball well. I thought our ride was great. We just capitalized and took advantage of our chances. A win like this is a big confidence booster.”
“This was electric,” said Wainwright following the 11-4 win. “The kids needed this. This game gave them that venue they’ve been dying for all season. It was a little wild but for these guys it means a lot to them. For them to have this moment on their senior night, it was epic.”
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
