Harwood dominates Burlington in lacrosse season opener
April 6, 2022 | By Jared Pap | Community News Service
The Highlanders defend their Division II title this season. Photo by Gordon Miller
BURLINGTON - The defending Division 2 state champion Harwood Highlanders start the 2022 season in the win column after defeating division newcomers Burlington High School on the road Monday, 12-8.
After a tightly contested game, Harwood pulled away towards the end of the fourth quarter. In the final minute before halftime, the Highlanders scored a pair of goals off rebounds to tie the game 3-3 and then take the lead. Attack man Evan Andrews picked a rebound from a 12-yard shot and fired it home from the crease, beating the buzzer and making the score 4-3 Harwood at the half.
Harwood picked up where they left off in the third quarter, with midfielder Brian Bechtel’s high overhand bounce shot finding the back of the net before Kolten Kenney scored off teammate Jake Green’s feed to make it 6-3 Highlanders. Faceoff man Tim Russo’s strong performance at the X gave Harwood a sizeable possession advantage before Seahorse senior Miles Jope’s shorthanded goal pulled Burlington one goal closer. Harwood had their answer 20 seconds later in the form of Bechtel’s rocket from outside to make the game 7-4.
Burlington rose to the occasion, with Kaj Yagoda dodging from X, turning, and firing to again bring the Seahorses within two. Ten seconds later, fellow senior Ethan Goldsmith joined Yagoda on the scoring sheet, cutting Harwood’s lead to just one. The Highlanders’ lead stayed safe through the end of the third as goaltender Addison Dietz robbed Burlington of a last-second equalizer.
Early in the fourth, Harwood faced a threat as two players took penalties, leaving their defense with the task of killing off a 6-on-4 extra man opportunity for Burlington. The Highlanders, however, were up to the task, and teams traded goalless possessions until Burlington senior Jeremy Finn Riley scored off freshman Jacques Debedout’s pass to knot the game at 7 with 8 minutes to go.
Harwood answered with a pair of goals. Midfielder Cameron Forbes’ quick stick from the crease made it 8-7 before Green’s highlight-reel shot banged off the left pipe and in to put the Highlanders up by 2. Harwood’s 2-goal cushion was short lived, as seconds later Burlington senior Seth Harte pulled off a spectacular spin move and finish to again cut the lead to 1.
This was as close as Burlington would get. With 4:30 left, Evan Andrews scored from Jake Green to make it 10-8. On the next Burlington possession, Dietz hugged his left pipe to make a big save with his leg. Controlling the rebound, Harwood’s keeper kicked off a series of passes downfield leading to a Jordan Grimaldi goal assisted by Nathan Kudriavetz. With 3 minutes to play, Harwood led 11-8.
Harwood Boys Lacrossse practices on the field along Route 100 in front of the high school this week. Photo by Gordon Miller
Dietz would again thwart hopes of a Burlington comeback by darting behind his goal to pick off a pass. Harwood used this possession to run the clock down to one minute before Jacob Green put the game out of reach, bringing the game to its final score of 12-8.
“Everything we did out there was okay,” said Harwood head coach Russell Beilke. “Lots and lots of stuff we need to work on, considering it was, you know, our second time outside, [we] had a hard time going against that zone for a bit, we made some adjustments. Any win is a good win.”
Harwood’s championship defense campaign resumes at home against Colchester High School on Tuesday, April 12, at 4 p.m. Friday the team hosts Montpelier at 4 p.m. as well.
Spring season underway
Girls lacrosse was scheduled to start the season on the road this week against Lamoille on Wednesday and Mount Mansfield on Friday, but both dates were canceled on the sports calendar as of Wednesday. Next week has three away games on the calendar: Monday at Woodstock; Thursday, April 14, at Burlington High School; Saturday, April 16, at St. Johnsbury Academy.
Track and field competed Tuesday at Burlington High School in sunshine at their first meet of the season. Their next date is Tuesday, April 12, at Champlain Valley Union.
Also next week, both baseball and softball teams head to Milton on Monday for their first games. On Thursday, April 14, the teams have a pair of home games vs. U-32. The teams travel to Randolph on Saturday, April 19.
On Tuesday, April 12, boys tennis travels to Stowe to start their season. Girls tennis takes on Stowe at the Waterbury tennis courts at Anderson Field near the town swimming pool.
Community News Service is a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.