An early-season encounter gave the Joel Barlow High boys lacrosse team a glimpse of what it could later face in the state tournament.
The Falcons stepped up on defense when they hosted Daniel Hand of Madison. After shutting out their opponent in the first half, they allowed just three goals in the second for a 5-3 non-league win on a windy Saturday, April 6.
“Our defense played great,” said Barlow head coach Tyler Leahy, citing the play of goalie Cole Bonanno, Andrew Watson, Jack Hall and Tyler Young in particular. “Those guys really stepped up for us.”
Hand, which was Class M runner-up last season, had no success in finding the net in the first half. Both sides struggled to score during that time but the Falcons took advantage of an opportunity with relatively early when Spencer Skidell scored unassisted to give his team a slim 1-0 lead with 9:44 remaining.
Scoring chances were equally as few in the next frame. Both sides came up empty but the Falcons still had the lead going into halftime.
Barlow’s attack picked up a bit when play resumed. Less than a minute and a half into the action, the Bonanno brothers came through with Joey scoring and Luke getting the assist.
The Tigers, however, would not go down without a fight. Just 28 seconds later, Andrew Benson netted the first of back-to-back goals, this one coming with 10:07 left in the third quarter. Two minutes later, he struck again to tie things at 2-2.
That was also close as it got as the Falcons also scored consecutive goals of their own. Skiddell netted his second with 7:17 left with Ian Lent assisting and Luke Bonanno made it a 4-2 game at the 5:35 mark with his brother Joey assisting and Barlow led 4-2 after three frames.
When Hand’s Anthony Bowe scored with 9:14 left, it was a one-goal game again. Barlow did not surrender another, however, and got a little breathing room when Luke Bonanno scored his second goal with 8:08 to go as Frankie Branca got the assist.
Barlow had to make some adjustments when two starting defensemen were sidelined with penalties with 2:20 left. Freshman Sean Rinaldi and sophomore Ryan Snyder came in to help preserve the lead.
Skidell scored two goals for Barlow, as did Luke Bonanno, who also had an assist. Joey Bonanno scored one goal with an assist while Lent and Branca each finished with assists.
Cole Bonanno made ten saves in goal for the Falcons, who are at Weston on Tuesday and host Pomperaug on Thursday. Both games are at 6 p.m.
