NORTHAMPTON — Despite leading for most of game, the Northampton boys lacrosse team felt like it played a much closer game against rival Amherst Regional.
The Hurricanes “compete hard,” Northampton coach Matt Striebel said after his team’s 9-4 win Tuesday. “They made us uncomfortable in spots. It didn’t feel like we were always in control. It was close enough for them to break it open on us at any point.”
Northampton led 7-3 in the third quarter when goalie Bryce Wall made multiple stops for the Blue Devils to keep the Hurricanes from getting any closer.
Wall finished with 14 saves for the Blue Devils (3-2).
Ryan Wall and Sam Ohotnicky thwarted several Amherst scoring opportunities.
“They are really strong defensively,” Amherst coach Matt Crutch said. “But on offense nobody gave up. If a couple bounces go our way and we get some timely goals, we put a real scare into these guys.”
Willy Wright gave Amherst (1-6) a 1-0 lead, but Northampton scored the next seven goals.
Hamp quickly answered Wright’s goal when Henry Higgins unleashed a laser from the point that tied the game.
Henry Attias put the Blue Devils ahead with an impressive individual play. Attias stretched high in the air to intercept an Amherst pass in the Hurricanes’ defensive end.
Attias made a couple moves then found the net to give Hamp a 2-1 lead in the first.
“Early in the game we had a ton of unforced turnovers,” Crutch said. “There was some sloppy lacrosse early.”
Attias finished with two goals and two assists as his ability to beat the first defender led to multiple scoring opportunities for the Blue Devils. The sophomore has worked on using both stick hands all year.
“If you can have two hands you are really hard to guard,” Striebel said. “He’s been working on that a lot on practice. Offense starts when you break someone down and having someone who can do that and create rotations is great.”
In the second quarter, Attias drew a defender and found Jasper Rhoads for a goal to give Northampton a 3-1 lead.
The score increased to 4-1 on an Amherst own-goal. Jameson Miller was the closest Northampton player to the play and was credited for the score.
Matt Huggett’s shot from the point made it 5-1 going into the break.
After the opening faceoff in the third quarter, Northampton’s Ian Shaw scooped up the ball and went in unassisted for a goal to make it 6-1.
“He was mad coming out,” Striebel said. “I got on him a little bit (in the second). But he can do that. Just take it and score by himself.”
Kyle Luzzi-Dundon scored for Northampton before Wright’s second goal of the game for Amherst.
Liam Kelley’s tally for Amherst made it 7-3 in the third.
Amherst made a strong offensive push in the second half but couldn’t cut into the deficit.
Vance Cannella’s goal for Amherst made it 8-4 with 6:38 left in the game.
Evan Moulton notched an assist from behind the net for Northampton, feeding Huggett on an impressive set-up for the final goal.
