Forni Nets Game Winner for Boys Lacrosse

After an impressive start to the season, the Woburn High boys’ lacrosse team dropped a tough non-league contest to Chelmsford Wednesday.

With the teams knotted at 6-6 and just under five minutes left to play, Chelmsford’s Slade Forni found the back of the net off a pass from Eddie Sheridan for what would be the game-winning goal, as the Tanners moved to 4-2 with the 7-6 loss.

“We didn’t execute as six offensive players today,” Woburn coach Ken Blaszka said. “Then, on defense, we didn’t do some of the little things.”

Woburn jumped out to an early 4-1, as Casey Shea scored twice early, followed by goals from teammates Robby Mistretta and John Tobin. Chelmsford’s Steve Buckley netted his team’s first goal, with teammate Connor Brimley scoring with just two seconds left in the first quarter to pull the Lions within two, at 4-2.

In the second quarter, Woburn was almost constantly on a man-advantage, as Chelmsford players were flagged numerous times. However, the Tanners failed to convert on their scoring chances, and the score remained 4-2 at the half.

“I thought the second quarter was really the difference,” Blaszka said.

After Chelmsford’s Alex Hurd and Woburn’s Brendan Gilgun traded goals to start the third, Brimley added another to pull the Lions within one, at 5-4, with about five minutes remaining in the quarter.

Then, with just over three minutes left in the third, Chelmsford’s Sean Gervais and Forni scored back-to-back goals, about 15 seconds apart, to take a 6-5 lead.

Chelmsford goalie Josh Hinkson made three key saves to end the third and then two more at the start of the fourth to keep his team on top.

After two Woburn shots hit the post, Cole Connolly tied the game, at 6-6, with about 7:30 to play, before Forni’s deciding goal.

Woburn will stay out of the Middlesex League to face another Merrimack Valley Conference opponent, Lowell, at 10 a.m. Friday in Lowell. Chelmsford will host Salem, of the Northeastern Conference, at noon Sunday.