The longtime rivalry between the Joel Barlow High boys varsity lacrosse team and New Fairfield has produced some close contests in recent seasons. Their latest encounter proved to be no
exception.
The two sides battled right from the opening face-off last April 25. In true fashion, things went down to the wire before the host Falcons held on for an 8-7 win.
“We always have battles with New Fairfield, said Barlow head coach Taylor Leahy. “We put some goals in some big moments. We took advantage of a few opportunities we had in transition.”
Although Barlow never trailed, it also never led by more than two goals. It struck first two minutes into the game, courtesy of Kaden Holub for an early 1-0 lead.
The game also featured three ties, the first coming with just under five minutes to go in the first quarter. The Rebels quickly moved the ball up field, getting the ball to Josh Krueger, who was all alone in front of the Falcon goal and took the shot that tied it at 1-1.
Back-to-back tallies by Spencer Skidell gave Barlow some breathing room, the first coming off a pass from Frankie Branca with 23 seconds left in the quarter. Seventeen seconds later, Skidell struck again to make it a 3-1 game after one frame.
Each sided netted a goal in the period, with New Fairfield’s Jack Perun making it a one-goal game with 9:26 left in the half and Luke Bonanno putting his team up by two (4-2) 20 seconds later as Barlow held its lead going into halftime.
Winning the first few face-offs in the second half, New Fairfield used this to its advantage, scoring two goals to tie it at 4-4 less than a minute and a half into the action. The two sides exchanged goals to tie things again at 5-5 before the Falcons came up big with two key goals by Sean Gabriel and Luke Bonanno in the last five minutes. A key save by goalie Cole Bonanno right before the buzzer helped preserve a 7-5 Falcon lead.
“We put some goals in some big moments,” said Leahy. “We took advantage of a few opportunities we had in transition.”
Twice the Rebels came within a goal of tying things in the fourth quarter. Krueger’s goal made it 7-6 with 9:10 to go, and after Luke Bonanno netted his third goal the Rebels’ Mike Traynor made it 8-7 with 7:25 remaining.
With Dylan Taylor winning a number of key face-offs in the period the Falcons were able to hold onto the ball as well as get in out of their half of the field. A key turnover in the last minute gave Barlow the ball and maintain possession until time expired.
“We honestly didn’t have the ball a ton of time,” said Leahy. “New Fairfield did good job of holding the ball and slowing the game down.”
Luke Bonanno led Barlow with three goals and Skidell had two. Joey Bonanno, Holub and Gabriel each netted one. Branca and Ian Lent each had an assist.
Leahy praised the defensive play of Andrew Watson and Cole Bonanno in denying New Fairfield chances to score near the end.
Barlow, now 8-2, was headed to Bunnell-Stratford on Thursday and to host Bethel on Saturday.
