By Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi)
CAMBRIDGE - Lincoln-Sudbury proved why it is the top team in the state on Saturday with a resounding 15-3 victory over Western Mass power Longmeadow at Harvard Stadium. The Warriors (9-1) never looked back after a 2-0 lead and continued to build off of it with a strong second quarter. against the Lancers (9-3).
“We came out of the gate, which is something we were stressing hard,” said senior Jack Sutherland, who scored three goals. “Our mission for this game was to open the way we did, go hard, go fast off the opening whistle.”
Sutherland was one of three L-S seniors to tally three times along with Hayden Frey and Junior Almeida. Almeida also won 13 faceoffs and dominated from the dot.
“When he plays that way, he changes the game,” Lincoln-Sudbury coach Brian Vona said. “He’s that good of a player. I thought he changed the tone of the game today.”
Frey assisted twice as well on Sutherland goals in what was a dominant offensive game, but not to be overlooked was the defense.
“Our defense has been tough all year,” Vona said. “We’re not the most skilled team in the state, not even close. But they play together.”
That defense, led by captain Ryan Donlan and the likes of Peter Rizotti and Daniel Ryan, forced Longmeadow to the perimeter and the Lancers (9-3) couldn't get into any kind of an offensive rhythm, failing on seven clears.
"Starting with Trevor [van Leer] in net, he's there every game, and Danny Ryan, Ryan Donlan, Peter Rizzoti, we go up against them in practice every day and they make us better," Sutherland said. "It's awesome to know you have that blanket behind you to take care of things."
Trevor van Leer made five saves, while Longmeadow 'keeper Greg MacDonald made eight. The Warriors dominated possessions from faceoffs, and the Lancers couldn’t clear, wearing down their defense. L-S also forced eight turnovers.
Other goal scorers for the Warriors included Christopher Kelly, Jack Garrity, Chandler Katz, and Matthew Ward, who netted two. Clayton Moseman scored two for the Lancers, both assisted by Kristopher Campbell, and the other goal came from Noah Skole.
The game is Longmeadow’s second loss to an Eastern Mass school, after a 11-5 loss to BC High in the Lancers’ first game of the season. Their other loss, a 13-7 defeat, came at the hands of undefeated New Hampshire powerhouse Pinkerton Academy. The Lancers will have to deal with Duxbury late in the season for their last contest against an Eastern Mass foe.
The Warriors hadn’t played in a week and were rebounding from their only loss all season, 7-5 to New Jersey powerhouse Summit. It is the third time all season L-S has held an opponent to three goals or less, including its last victory, 17-3 over Bedford, and a 12-2 win over Westford.
So far this season, Lincoln-Sudbury has taken every challenge head-on, and the next marquee game on their schedule is Duxbury this weekend, following two games during the week against always tough Acton-Boxborough and Concord-Carlisle.
No one has been able to knock off the Warriors yet, at least in Massachusetts.
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