Quick Start Helps Hoosac at McCann Tech

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley boys lacrosse team jumped out to a six-goal lead and held off McCann Tech late to earn a 16-7 victory on Friday.

The Hurricanes (4-4) led by eight, 12-4, going into the fourth quarter, but McCann got goals from Justin Meczywor and Nico Moreno to cut the lead to six in the first two minutes of the quarter.

But Hoosac scored the next four -- two off the stick of Tyler Jayko -- to regain control.

“I kind of had rolled in some of my subs to give them some work at the start of the fourth,” Hoosac coach John Alibozek said. “McCann was a resilient team, they took advantage of it and started coming back. So I got my guys back out there to keep things at a distance.”

The Hurricanes put some distance between themselves and the Hornets in the first eight minutes, jumping out to a 6-0 lead.

“We did get a very quick start,” Alibozek said. “I think we caught them a little by surprise, and we managed to hold that lead for a while.

“He had a very good transition game today. Our ‘D’ did a good job in front of my goalie, helping him out, making sure he could see what was coming in in the beginning of the game, and it paid off for us.”

Brendan Ellsworth scored four goals, and Nick Waterman had a hat trick with two assists for Hoosac, which got a strong game between the pipes from Cam Alibozek.

Waterman scored twice in the opening barrage that helped Hoosac take a 6-1 lead into the second period.

McCann (0-10) was stronger in the second quarter but went to the break down 10-3 after Vance Eugene and Waterman scored back-to-back at the end of the half.

Ellsworth scored twice in the third to make it 12-8 going to the fourth.

McCann, which dropped an 18-3 decision at Hoosac Valley just last week, continued to show improvement in its inaugural season of boys lacrosse.

“We definitely had a slow start,” McCann coach Paul Lange said. “Take away the first eight minutes, and it’s a different game, right? And for about five minutes of the fourth quarter, we had good momentum, and then they got the momentum. Take away those two periods of time, and we’ve got a much different ballgame.

“But it was a good game. Maybe a little sloppy in the rain, which might help us a little bit. We can be scrappy that way. … Every game we’re getting better. Every day in practice we’re getting better. That’s what we want to see.

“Even if we were a state championship team, that’s what we’d want to see.”

McCann hosts St. Mary’s on Monday. Hoosac Monday goes to Taconic.