Printer Friendly Version - Hand Boys’ Lacrosse Plays Way to State Final; McShane Wins Pole Vault at Class L Meet

George McGuirk and the Hand boys’ lacrosse team routed Berlin 19-4 in the first round of the Class M State Tournament on June 1, after which the Tigers reached the semis with a 16-0 blowout of Pomperaug.Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source

The Hand boys' lacrosse team is going back to the Class M State championship game.

On June 8, the Tigers edged New Fairfield 8-7 in a semifinal contest at Fairfield University to advance to the final and a rematch with New Canaan. Last year, Hand took a 10-5 loss to the Rams in the Class M state final. This year's title bout will take place at McMahon High School in Norwalk at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The Tigers are the No. 6 seed in the bracket and own a record of 13-7. Top-seeded New Canaan is 16-4 and defeated Barlow 13-10 in its semifinal game.

This will be Hand's third apperance in a state final. Prior to last season, the Tigers had made it in 2006, when they lost to Darien. New Canaan will be playing in its 12th state final and is going for its fifth title.

Previously, the Tigers advanced to the semifinals of the Class M State Tournament after posting lopsided wins in its first two games.

Hand entered the tournament as the No. 6 seed and routed No. 11 Berlin 19-4 in the first round. Tigers’ goals came from Lucas Mendicino (6), George McGurik (4), Reid Sweitzer (4), and Liam Gotlick (2), plus Jack Santoro, Ben Jasko, and Cal Baughn each had one apiece. McGuirk, Sweitzer, and Jack Santoro assisted on goals. Eric Lyons made four saves as Hand outshot the Redcoats 26-10.

In the quarterfinals on June 4, the Tigers advanced in emphatic fashion with a 16-0 shutout over Pomperaug. Mendicino (5), McGurik (2), Zach Santoemma (2), Liam Gotlick (2), Sweitzer, Teg Cosgriff, Chris Gallagher, Nate Polumbo, and Mike Bartosic all scored for Hand. McGurik and Nate Palumbo assisted with Lyons making seven saves and Mason Feiner two in the shutout.

Hand was eighth out of 25 teams with 33 points at the Class L State Championship on May 31 at Middletown.

Devon McShane took the pole vault crown by reaching a height of 14 feet, beating out Darien’s Henry Vossler (13-0). Also Max Veth was third in the 400 (49.85); the 4x400 relay of Garrett Noonan, Matt Parker, Mark Lisi, and Veth was fifth (3:27.53); the 4x800 of Noonan, Colin Roth, Sean Collins, and Lisi was finished fifth (8:20.41); Michael Burchell came in third with the shot put (46-5.75); and Garrison Fenner tossed to sixth for the javelin (149-0).

The Tigers were 20th out of 27 schools for the Class L State Championship by scoring 12 points.

Gabby Harmon finished sixth in the 200 (26.67); Megan Phillips raced to sixth in the 800 (2:21.31) and Gabby Egidio followed in eighth (2:22.52); plus the 4x400 relay of Phillips, Heather Whelahan, Abigail Walton, and Harmon was fourth (4:05.98).

No. 16-seeded Hand defeated No. 17 Guilford 8-5 in the first round of the Class L State Tournament on May 31. The next day at top-seeded Fitch, the Tigers took a 5-2 loss. The Tigers won 13 games in 2016.

In the first inning of the Guilford win, Hand scored three runs with a two-RBI double by Sam Pavano serving as the big hit. Ashley Ignatowski responded in the next inning with a one-out triple and she was driven in by Emily Torre. Charlotte Young led off the third with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ava Gladwin. Guilford led 4-3 in the fourth after Jordyn Goldstein hit a double off the right-center field fence and she later scored on a single by Sara Barriera. Torre then scored on a passed ball. Hand tied up the game at 4 in the fifth. Lilly Geshwind hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Abby Fedus with two down. Moving to the sixth, Hollis Wivell singled, stole second base, and came around to score on a throwing error. Lilly Geshwind added a home run to center and Hand had a 7-4 lead. Guilford led off the bottom of the sixth with three-straight singles by Ignatowski, Torre, and Goldstein to cut the lead to 7-5. Guilford loaded the bases, but was unable to score any other runs in the inning. Hand then padded its lead in the seventh with a two-out RBI double from Alli Buller.

Hand shot a collective 385 and was the runner-up to Mercy (356) at the Southern Connecticut Girls Golf League Championship on June 1 at Hawk’s Landing Country Club in Southington.

Competing for Hand were Erin Schroeder (83), Emily Schroeder (98), Emily Kuck (100), Emma Boey (104), Gabby Larizza (109).

Hand finished third out of nine teams at the SCC Championship on May 31 at Racebrook Country Club by shooting a 329. Xavier won with a round of 316 for the par-71 course.

The Tigers’ golfers on the day were Cliff Baird (86), Jeff Rider (95), Carter Chapman (81), Jake Bennett (78), and Jake Oliver (84).