WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The undefeated Hartford High boys lacrosse team has routed foe after foe during the Vermont Division II regular season, but a looming question remains.

Can the Hurricanes finally claim a state title?

Hartford (13-0) has reached a championship game five times, including last year’s three-goal loss to Rice. Saturday’s 17-1 defeat of Milton was effectively over after the first quarter, and the Yellowjackets avoided their second shutout only when a shot deflected off a Hurricane defender and into the net.

Senior Joseph Barwood, Hartford’s career scoring leader, tallied five times and added two assists. Ryan Spaulding had three goals, and Logan Caffrey, Brayden Trombly and Cavan Benjamin each struck twice. Milton fell to 4-7.

Hartford’s girls lacrosse team broke through last spring, winning its first state crown after stumbling in the semifinals during the previous three seasons. Hartford’s lady laxers have now won 29 consecutive games; wouldn’t a sweep of the boys and girls Division II titles be sweet?

The boys’ stumbling block appears to be, once again, those Green Knights from up north. Rice is a pedestrian 8-6, but its strength of schedule is eye-opening.

The Green Knights’ current slate features just two Division II opponents although, because of school size, that’s the level at which they’ll be competing during the upcoming postseason. Rice didn’t play a single Division I team last spring but last week edged Champlain Valley Union, the nine-time Division I state champion.

Hartford’s schedule not only doesn’t include a Division I foe, it features four Division III opponents.

Hurricanes coach Grant Whiteway noted his team has often played D-I member Woodstock in past years. He said he didn’t know why the Wasps aren’t on this year’s schedule but knows Hartford will almost certainly have to contend with a battle-hardened Rice in the near future.

“We have a lot of carryover from last year, and we were able to start this season farther ahead in our learning because the kids already knew our offensive and defensive sets,” said Whiteway, a onetime UMass star. “We’re older and more experienced. Having guys who have played in big games goes a long way.”

The notable graduation losses from last year’s squad were attackmen Gordon Willey and Aidan Boonyaharn and goaltender Tarin Prior. The latter has been replaced by freshman Graham Thompson, who was taking practice shots after Saturday’s game.

The hope is that this season’s more-diverse scoring carries into the playoffs, forcing opponents to account for not two or three triggermen but seven or eight. Newer faces like Benjamin, Bryce Soboleski, Nick Daniels and Austin St. Peter have earned increased playing time and given the Hurricanes depth.

“They’re more confident and they’re just playing the game, not stopping and thinking about it,” Whiteway said. “I’ve always liked playing a run-and-gun style and not letting the ball die in one guy’s stick.”

Said Barwood: “We have a lot of hockey players on this team and we haven’t had a lot of postseason success, so our main goal is to get it done this last time. We’ve matured, and we’re not those cocky kids anymore.”

Whiteway said he senses increased poise mixed with desire.

“Our seniors naturally get a sense of urgency down the stretch,” he said. “But we talk all the time about how you only get one chance to play high school sports with the kids you’ve grown up with. So take every game one at a time and enjoy it.

Notes: Hartford has reached at least the division semifinals each of the last six seasons and is 86-27 during their last seven campaigns. … Barwood plans to enroll at Rhode Island’s Bryant University in the fall, where he might try to walk on to the Bulldogs’ golf team. However, he said the program’s coach told him he wouldn’t be allowed to play club ice hockey or lacrosse if he joined the linksmen, so the freshman will have a choice to make. … Hartford has outscored its opponents, 162-35. … The Hurricanes are without injured midfielders Nick LaRose and Ezra Mock. Whiteway said he was unsure if they would return to action this season. … Hartford has two goaltending coaches in former Hanover standout Chris Washington and onetime Hartford and University of New England netminder Kyle Prior. … Many of the Hurricanes feature the initials B.E. written on athletic tape and on their facemasks. It honors late head coach Bill Elberty, who died in 2020.

Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.

]]>