WOODSTOCK — As the Woodstock High boys lacrosse team huddled prior to its game against visiting Hartford on Monday night, a voice bellowed from within the mass of Wasps.
“They’re a good team this year, boys!” came the shout. “No letdown!”
The Vermont Division II Hurricanes are indeed having a strong campaign, but they were no match for their Division I hosts, who won, 17-4, after leading by three goals at halftime. Freshman attackman Keaton Piconi, although lacking in size and strength, more than made up for it in stick skills and mental acuity and produced three goals for the Wasps in a contest that was finished with running time.
“He wasn’t in the starting lineup at the beginning of the season,” Woodstock coach Brandon Little said of Piconi. “I kept wondering if he was ready, but he’s crafty and always in the right spot.
“Once we started moving the ball tonight, thing went really well,” continued the coach, whose team visits Brattleboro on Thursday. “We didn’t do that in the first half.”
Woodstock senior Caden White had five goals and an assist, and classmate Lucas Piconi had three goals and two assists. Senior Peter Borden had two goals and an assist and Field Willis, Riley Shepherd, Charles Greene and Jed Astbury each had single strikes for Woodstock. Astbury added two assists.
Hartford received two goals from Reece Thompson and single tallies from Logan Raymond and Kaj Boeri. Hunter Hutchinson and Dawson Nalette had assists and Tarin Prior made six saves.
The Wasps scored on each of their first three shots and on four of their first five, leading 3-0 after five minutes and 6-3 at halftime. Wasps goaltender Gabe Marsicovetere had a strong game with 16 saves, and supremely athletic midfielder Isaac Emery flew around the field on offense and defense.
It was a fast-paced, emotional game between programs that have each been on a slow, steady rise in recent years, but Woodstock is several steps ahead. The Wasps (8-4) have won their last five games, while Hartford is 8-4 and has lost three consecutive contests.
“We work to play a fast game and make sure everyone has the stick skills to do it,” Little said. “Our freshmen and sophomores play at game speed, so they’ve earned their minutes.”
Woodstock won last year’s meeting between the neighbors, 9-3, breaking open a 1-1 halftime tie.
Notes: Former Wasps star Dan Robinson was on the home sideline. He has three points in 27 career games at St. Lawrence University, where he just completed his sophomore season for the 13-4 Saints. … Woodstock won the schools’ JV game, 13-3. Coaching the Hurricanes was former Hartford player Taylor Thompson and onetime Hanover goaltender Chris Washington. … Woodstock honored seniors Charlie Amato, Ora Astbury, Jed Astbury, Ben Marsicovetere, White, Emery, Lucas Piconi, Micah Schlabach, Gabe Marsicovetere and Borden. … Jed Astbury and White plan to attend Maine Maritime, with plans to play football and lacrosse. Gabe Marsicovetere is headed for Keene State but is unsure if he’ll suit up for the Owls, while Schlabach plans to play for Massachusetts’ Emmanuel College. Piconi will matriculate at Union (N.Y.) College, where he hopes to play lacrosse for the Dutchmen. Emery is going to UVM to study engineering and join the freestyle skiing club.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.