Before last Thursday’s Division I lacrosse game between Pinkerton Academy and Bishop Guertin began, there were those in the Stellos Stadium press box proclaiming Pinkerton as the Division I team to beat this season.
When the game was over, it was the BG bandwagon that had become more crowded.
Sophomore midfielder Tom Labadini scored seven goals for BG, which beat Pinkerton in last year’s Division I championship game. The victory raised BG’s record to 11-0.
Pinkerton, which has won nine of the last 15 Division I titles, suffered its first loss of the season and dropped to 9-1. The Astros were held to one goal in the second half.
"We came out and established ourselves early,'' BG coach Chris Cameron said. “And a big factor was faceoffs. We must have won 75 or 80 percent.
“It was 9-5 at halftime, but it could have easily been 9-2. That’s how good we played.”
Pete Hardy scored three goals for the Cardinals, who also received two goals from Jack Krzyston and 11 saves from Brett Lyskawa.
The game ended with just over three minutes remaining when BG’s Nick Asterita and Pinkerton’s Zak Tully were involved in a violent collision near midfield. Tully was not injured, but Asterita was removed from the field by paramedics and treated at a local hospital.
"It's a thing that happens in lacrosse from time to time,'' Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said. "You throw a long pass, the kid gets set up, it happens. Nobody wants to see it happen.
"Don't accuse us of being cheap shot-artists because that's not what we do. Was that a bad hit? Was it a penalty? Absolutely. But we don't go head hunting for people.''
Football: Guinto among All-American Bowl nominees
Pinkerton Academy defensive back Eric Guinto is one of three New Hampshire players who have been nominated for consideration to play in the 10th U.S. Army All-American Bowl, an all-star football game that features some of the best high school talent in the country.
Manchester Central running back Mike Cavanaugh and Pinkerton offensive lineman Chris Trieb are the other New Hampshire players who have been nominated for next year’s game, which will be played Jan. 9 (1 p.m.) in San Antonio’s Alamodome. NBC will televise the game live.
Guinto, Cavanaugh and Trieb were all Division I first team All-State selections last season.
Of the 400 nominees, 90 players will be chosen to play in the 2010 game.
Hockey: Pelham, Windham join forces
Neighboring Pelham and Windham high schools will form a cooperative ice hockey team next season. The Pelham/Windham team, which has NHIAA approval for the next two years, will be the fifth cooperative ice hockey program in the state.
“Now, with the contraction of budgets and some population shifts, we are seeing more communities looking to this option to either maintain an existing program or create a new one,” NHIAA executive director Pat Corbin told the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.
According to Windham athletic director Bill Raycraft, the team will compete at the junior varsity level for the 2009-2010 season and may play a varsity schedule in 2010-11. Pelham/Windham will be placed in either Division II or Division III.
Softball: Morse dominating hitters
Dover’s Sarah Morse tossed her third no-hitter of the season to help Dover beat Manchester West, 2-0, Friday.
Earlier this year Morse pitched a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Trinity, and a perfect game in a 5-0 triumph over Winnacunnet.
