Hoosac Valley Boys Edge Mount Greylock
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Hoosac Valley boys lacrosse team improved to 8-0 on the season, wrapped up a berth in the playoffs with a week left in the month of April and beat the gold standard in Berkshire County boys lacrosse to do it.
It did not take senior Matt Hall long to decide which was the biggest accomplishment on that list.
“I would say getting this win today because it’s never been done before,” Hall said after the Hurricanes beat Mount Greylock, 8-6. “It’s our first time. We’re going into the playoffs now, we clinched that. And beating these guys, we know we have business to take care of, and we can do it.
“It’s all the work we’ve put in. We know this is our year, so we’re going out to get it.”
Nick Waterman scored three goals and assisted on two more, and Casey Meczywor and Justin Meczywor each scored a pair. Vance Eugene rounded out the scoring with a goal, and Brady Larkin made 14 saves to earn the win.
Hoosac Valley senior Adam Bush agreed with Hall that the hard work of all the Hurricanes led to the program’s first ever win over the Mounties and the first by any county team against Mount Greylock since the sport moved from club to varsity in 2012.
“Trust is a huge thing,” Bush said. “Nobody out here things they’re better than anybody else. Not one single player makes a team. The team is everything we’ve been doing in the off-season, in practice.
“Everything comes together to make one big thing. Nick [Waterman] might have had three goals, but it’s all the other things that people are doing that keep us up.”
Waterman completed his hat trick in the first quarter, and Justin and Casey Meczywor each had a second quarter goal as the Hurricanes took a 5-1 lead into half-time.
It was 6-3 after three quarters before the Hurricanes had to hold off a late Mount Greylock rally to secure the win.
“I think our defense was terrific today,” Waterman said. “We held them to six goals, which is not a lot in lacrosse. Yes, they took a lot of shots, but they were not all quality shots. Our defense put them in tough positions, and our goalie, Brad Larkin, made some quality saves.”
Bush agreed.
“Our defense may have made it tough, but some of those shots they took were fantastic shots,” Bush said. “If Brady doesn’t have his head on a swivel out there and isn’t on top of his game, those go in. All the credit to Brady on that.”
Michael Wellspeak led Mount Greylock with two goals and an assist, and Taylor Cummings scored twice for the Mounties, who got 15 saves from David Falk.
Mount Greylock (2-3) goes to Taconic on Wednesday.
Hoosac Valley hosts Pittsfield on Wednesday.