Brazeau, Pittsfield Boys Down Chicopee

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Jacob Brazeau scored more goals for the Pittsfield boys lacrosse team in the last two days than some teams may score this season.

 

Brazeau, who had eight goals in a win on Friday afternoon, followed that up Saturday morning with seven goals in a 10-8 win over Chicopee at Egremont Elementary.

 

“He’s doing what we asked him,” Pittsfield coach Scott Aitken said. “He’s stepped up nice. He and his brother [Zach] are killing it back there.

 

“It’s funny. Jacob is like a quiet goal scorer. You almost forget he’s out there, and next thing you know, he’s scoring goals and making cuts.”

 

He came up big in the second quarter on Saturday, scoring three straight to single-handedly erase a 4-1 Chicopee lead.

 

“He’s done a good job stepping up for us,” Aitken said. “We lost some attack with Kevin [Quinto] leaving, so for him to fill in is great.”

 

Pittsfield picked up its second straight win to even its record and drop the Pacers to 0-6.

 

Chicopee looked like a team bound for its first win of the season when Sam Quinn scored from high on the right wing to give the visitors a 4-1 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter.

 

But Pittsfield stormed back, first with a man-up goal by Brazeau. Moments later, the brothers hooked up for Jacob’s third goal of the game. Finally, Jacob picked up a ground ball off a rebound and put it in the back of the net to tie the game.

 

With about three minutes left in the half, goalie Ethan Beach laced a perfect pass to midfield to a wide open Mitch Stechman, who made a beeline for the goal and beat Trent Lahair (12 saves) to give Pittsfield its first lead since 1-0.

 

It was 5-0 at half-time, and Quinn scored on a bounce shot for Chicopee early in the third to give his team a 6-5 lead.

 

But it ended up being the Pacers’ last advantage. Jacob Brazeau scored three straight, and Stechman and Brandon Murray found the back of the net to complete a 5-1 run and build a 10-7 lead with a couple of minutes left to play.

 

“They responded, which is good,” Aitken said of his team’s turnaround after falling behind early.

 

“They got the message without me totally having to scream, so that was good to see. I’m not a big fan of games on half days and vacation days because they’re not in their routine.

 

“But they responded. I guess they did need to wake up.”

 

Beach finished with 10 saves to earn the win between the pipes.

 

Pittsfield (2-2) goes to Bennington, Vt., to face Mount Anthony on Wednesday.