The Chatham High School boys lacrosse team took on the Summit Hilltoppers in the North-II Group-2 State Sectional Finals Sunday afternoon. The Cougars (18-4) were able to avenge an early season loss to the Hilltoppers (18-3) and come away with a hard fought 4-3 victory and the Sectional Title.
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1st
2nd
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3rd
4th
Final
Chatham (18-4)
2
0
2
0
4
Summit ( 18-3)
1
0
0
2
3
This was a match between two of the top ranked teams in the state and the game did not disappoint. The Cougars, with a patient ball-control style of play, broke on early in the first period as Thomas Guida and Joey Ritter scored on the Cougars first two possessions.
After spotting the Cougars a quick 2-0 lead the Hilltoppers got on the board when Liam Mennig scored at the 6:49 mark of the first period.
With three goals in less than 6 minutes the games settles into a defensive battle and the first half ended with no more scoring.
The third period started just like the first, with Chatham scoring off the opening faceoff as Sam Carson put one in unassisted just 57 seconds into the period. Carson followed up with a second goal midway through the period to put the Cougars up 4-1.
As the fourth period began, Summit picked up the intensity of their play and started to mount a comeback. Mike Badgley got the Hilltoppers within two with 7:17 remaining.
Summit's Matt Maier scored with 1:34 remaining to cut the lead to just one, but the Cougar defense and goaltender Robert Coe were able to hold off the Hilltoppers to preserve the victory.
Coach's Take
"We knew they had a very good offense so we needed to control the ball and keep their offense playing defense. When we played them last time we had allot of turnovers which we cleaned up in this game and when they started to press late in the game Robbie (Coe) came up with the saves." - Chatham head coach Anthony Calandra
