Printer Friendly Version - Hand Boys’ Lax Falls in Class M State Final

Senior Will Kleine nabbed a goal in the Hand boys’ lacrosse team’s Class M State Tournament final clash with Cheshire on June 11 at Sacred Heart University, a game that saw the Rams take the title by an 18-3 final. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Source

Junior Chase Docker and the Tigers’ boys’ lacrosse team made the program’s seventh trip to a state final before falling 18-3 to Cheshire in the Class M State Tournament final on June 11 at Sacred Heart University. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Source

The Hand boys’ lacrosse team earned a right to play for a state crown, and yet while the Tigers did not travel back to Madison with a new piece of hardware for the trophy case, they still displayed the heart of a champion along the road to that state finals matchup.

Hand, under the direction of Head Coach John Orlando, finished its 2023 regular season with an 11-5 record before splitting two contests in the SCC Tournament and falling in the semifinal round to eventual-champion Cheshire. Then, as the No. 2 seed in the Class M State Tournament, the Tigers first made quick work of No. 15 Watertown with a 16-2 home victory in the opening round on May 31 prior to then doubling up on 7th-seeded Farmington, 18-9, in the quarterfinals as hosts on June 3.

After taking down Notre Dame-West Haven in a semifinal on June 9 (12-11), the Tigers returned to the state championship game for the seventh occasion in program history dating back to their inaugural berth in 2006. They faced a familiar foe in top-seeded Cheshire on June 11 at Sacred Heart University–a squad that defeated Hand 14-9 in the regular season and in the SCC Tournament semifinal round by a 15-5 final.

For the third meeting between the two conference rivals with the state title on the line, unfortunately for the Tigers, it was the Rams completing the season sweep of Hand with an 18-3 decision to give Cheshire its first state title since 2010. The Rams finished their spring 20-3 overall, while the Tigers completed a still very strong season at 15-7 that also saw the program collect its 500th win.

“It was another great season for Hand lacrosse. We finished 10th in the New Haven Register poll,” said Orlando. “We were runners-up in Class M and competed against some of the top teams in the state. The team was a cohesive group of players that worked hard and matured as a team that learned how to win in tight games and also preserve leads late in games. In states, we were able to take a break from games. We had a hard stretch and tough games at the end of the regular season and the SCC Tournament. We regrouped and put together some different looks on offense and defense. The team refocused and really put together a nice string of playing good and smart team lacrosse.”

The Rams notched a quick 2-0 lead early in the opening quarter of the contest before holding a six-goal advantage after a period of play in holding the Tigers off the scoreboard.

Hand did eventually deny Cheshire its shutout bid with a goal in the second, but the Tigers went to halftime intermission trailing 11-1 after the Rams laid claim to the following five scores. Senior Will Kleine produced the Tigers’ tally with a strike at 10 minutes and 29 seconds into the second stanza.

The Rams increased their cushion in the third quarter by leading 15-2 in the later phases of the frame and led by 13 at 16-3 entering the final frame. They tacked on a few more in the fourth quarter and rode out the clock to their crown. Senior Alex Cushing and junior Chase Docker emerged as Hand’s tandem of tally producers in the third.

In the semifinal round two days earlier at home, Hand edged out No. 3 seed and SCC rival Notre Dame-West Haven, 12-11. The Tigers tallied the game-winning goal with 73 seconds remaining in regulation when senior Jameson McParland finished off his hat trick on the evening. Senior captain Sam Sisk added three goals and six assists and dished the deciding goal to McParland. Junior Jack Orlando made 14 stops in net, and senior captain Spiro Maniatis claimed 22 face-off wins out of 27 draws.

Also scoring in the win were senior Nick Lombardi (also earning a hat trick), plus Cushing (a goal and helper each), Docker (also 1 goal and 1 assist), and Kleine (1 tally). Hand narrowly outshot the Green Knights by a 42-40 margin.

“The game could have gone either way and Notre Dame tied it with 1:30 to go, and we scored the game winner with just over a minute to play and held on for the win,” said Orlando. “It was a happy moment for the players to win a semifinal at home at the Surf Club to advance to the finals.”

In terms of postseason solo honors, Sisk was named an Academic All-American, in addition to being named First Team All-SCC and First Team All-State. Kleine also earned First Team recognition for All-SCC and All-State. Cushing was selected as First Team All-State and Second Team All-SCC, and senior captain Ryan Xeller was Second Team for both the conference and state squads.

The 2023 Hand boys’ lacrosse team roster included seniors Jon Ciarcia, Kleine, McParland, Sisk, Matt Ciampini, Donovan Mortensen, Wesley Selmani, (captain) Xeller, Cushing, John Hayden, Lombardi, Maniatis; juniors of Jack Barrett, Owen Hardy, Cal Walker, Jack Wiesbrock, Dillon Diprospero, Bryce Malary, Nicholas Platanos, Connor Balletto, Owen Preskar, Jack Rourke, Sean Lynch, Orlando, Docker, CJ Morgan, Trip Rizzo, Jack Shay; plus sophomores of Ken Pompilli, Jack Healy, Tyler Naracci, PJ Ohanlon, and Jay Pinover.

Orlando has now been the head coach for Hand for six seasons, and he was assisted this campaign by Jim Rinere, who was in his third season, and newcomer Cal Baughn.