Sports
Offense heats up
May 8, 2008

by Rocco Paul Valluzzo
Pilot Sports Editor
rocco@thereddingpilot.com

What was originally a slow start soon turned into a scoring festival for the Joe, Barlow High boys varsity lacrosse team when it hosted Pomperaug.

The Falcons were held to just one goal in the opening frame on Thursday, May 1. They more than made up for this in the middle frame, pulling out of reach of the competition in an eventual 14-10 win last Thursday, May 1.

Aside from Chrs Naber's tally with 8:22 left in the first quarter the Falcons had a quiet start offensively. The Panthers had even less luck, scoring only once during that stretch.

That would change for both sides for the remainder of the half, especially for the Falcons. Cody Hickok's second quarter hat trick was part of seven-goal effort by the hosts and the Panthers also fared better offensively. Barlow still remained in control with an 8-4 advantage before the break in the action.

Back-to-back goals by Trevor McNally in then third quarter marked the beginning of a 4-0 Barlow scoring run that soon put it up 12-4 before Pomperaug responded with two more goals in the last two minutes.

For the final frame the Falcons eased up on their scoring an began to rest their starters. Pomperaug did score four times but by then it had little chance of catching the hosts.

Besides Hickok (three assists), Mike Ashton and McNally also had three-goal hat tricks. Drew Scharf (two assists) scored two, as did Parker Geane (one assist). Naber scored one with an assist while Ben Amy, Andrew Ross and Pat Eaker also had assists.

The quest for challenging opponents this season has not only taken Barlow outside the South-West Conference this season but also beyond the borders of Connecticut into New York. Last Saturday it visited Putnam Valley for a non-league game and despite taking a slim lead into the final quarter it could not protect it in the time remaining, losing an 8-5 decision.

Up 2-1 at halftime, Barlow later led 4-3 going into the final quarter. The hosts then turned up the offensive heat, putting five straight goals on the board in a streak that almost lasted for the rest of the game, interrupted only by a goal by Eaker in the closing seconds.

Ashton, Scharf and Hickok also scored for Barlow, as did Chris Malanaro. Geane had two assists, with Dan Mercede and Amy getting one each.

Watkins made 18 saves, including eight in the second quarter to shut down the competition during that stretch.

Barlow, now 5-5, visits Notre Dame on Friday, goes to Fox Lane High in Bedford, N.Y. on Saturday and travels to Glastonbury on Tuesday.


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