Mt. Hope lacrosse holds on for big D-III win over Narragansett

BRISTOL -- Mt. Hope knows only too well that this can't be the peak.

The Huskies want to avoid more heartbreak in the Division III boys lacrosse playoffs next month. Thursday evening's contest, however satisfying, was just another step along a possible path back to Brown University.

Nate Carpenter finished his hat trick at the ideal time, and Narragansett's comeback bid lost its steam midway through the fourth quarter at Naomi Street. Ben Browne added some insurance as Mt. Hope closed out an 8-5 victory under brilliant blue skies on May 7.

Charlie Knapman added two goals and Brayden Vales chipped in a goal and two assists as the Huskies used a quick start to jump on top for good. The Mariners rode strong goalkeeping from Trevor Bonner and a hat trick from Alex Bouard to cut into an early deficit, but Mt. Hope had just a little too much in a matchup between the top two teams in the standings.

"We've got to get better," Carpenter said. "There were still some flaws. But it felt good to get a win and get some revenge."

Narragansett spoiled a perfect season for the Huskies with a championship victory last June, and Mt. Hope waited 11 months for a slice of satisfaction in the next meeting. The Huskies called a timeout with 6:06 left in a 6-5 game and drew up a set for Carpenter on the right wing. Aedan Nelson reversed the ball from out high and Carpenter fired low into the net to make it a two-goal edge.

"It was time to get down to business," Carpenter said. "There were definitely some flaws before that, but when it comes down to it, you've either got to produce or you're going to fall. There was no option."

Mt. Hope waited less than a minute to add on, and it was Vales doing the facilitating this time. He set up behind the cage and waited patiently for Browne to work open near the right post. His shot found the net with 4:57 left and the Huskies restored the lead they enjoyed late in the third.

"I knew that Ben was going to shoot that," Vales said. "When I was coming around, they were playing extra close to the crease, so I gave a fake to get them thinking I was going to pass it toward the middle."

The Mariners (11-2) entered with three one-goal wins to their credit and were on the verge of at least threatening to claim another early in the fourth. Bouard’s goal with a man advantage made it 6-4 into the last 12 minutes, and he struck again with 8:06 left. A ground ball in the middle set Bouard up for a shot from out high and Mt. Hope’s edge was down to one.

"I expected that it was going to be this hard," Vales said. "But I also thought that we could have done better, and we're going to do better next time."

The Huskies (11-2) built a three-goal lead early in the second quarter and it could have been more. Bonner made five of his 12 saves in the first and had Narragansett within striking distance at the break. Vales hit for the opener and a pair each from Knapman and Carpenter gave Mt. Hope a 5-3 advantage into halftime.

"Our offense just has to work harder and stop taking shots from outside," Vales said. "We have to get inside, because that's our team."

The Mariners battled to a 9-8 win in last year's title classic, and another could be on the cards a couple of short weeks from now. The Huskies are in search of their first crown since going back-to-back in Division II in 2009 and 2010, and their winning streak now sits at eight matches. Defeats against Westerly and Waterford (Conn.) -- both Division II opponents according to the tournament standings -- are their lone blemishes to date.

"We're driven by what happened last year," Carpenter said. "All of experiencing that loss and that feeling that we never really want to feel again is what drives us every day and fall in love with the process."