Weak first quarters hampers Wildcats bid to knock down Hoggers in 9-3 loss

 

 

KUA traveled to NMH on Saturday to face the Hoggers. NMH, coming off an historic win against Salisbury (seeded #5 in New England), played aggressive, confident lacrosse in the opening quarter, building a 5-0 lead before Alex Andrews scooped up a lose ball in front of the net and slid it home to make it 5-1. NMH jumped early on the Wildcats again in the second quarter to make it 6-1, but then the momentum shifted and both teams would play nearly three complete quarters of even lacrosse. Eric Megnia and Andrew Jarret would score two goals for the Wildcats, while the KUA defense would limit the explosive NMH offense to just three more goals, the last coming with less than a minute in the game. Long pole midfielders Mike Powell, Hunter Braswell, and Rielly Decker played key roles, covering both crease targets and getting out early and deftly on shooters before they could get their hands free and sticks ready to fire. KUA’s short stick middies were equally effective in their efforts to force NMH’s shooters wide to the wings and cut of any and all unsettled scoring opportunities. Jacob Paluch, Cam Beecy, Owen Winslow, Mike Robertello, and PJ Tessier, and Colman Lamb hustled non-stop up and down the field. The defense had their hands full, covering arguably one of New England’s top attackman and two other talented threats. From the start of the second quarter to the final whistle, Matt Michaud pounded the NHM lead attackman, and Chris Anderson and Trey McDougall took away all feeding opportunities or dodging angles to the net.

 

Jon Butler made 4 point blank saves in the first quarter to slow down the early NMH surge and Santiago Morales recorded 8 saves in the second half.

 

KUA faces Exeter at home on Wednesday at 4pm.