Warde beats ND-West Haven, claims first state tournament win

The Fairfield Warde boys lacrosse team added one more first-time accomplishment to the list on Friday.

The 20th-seeded Mustangs scored four, third-quarter goals en route to an 8-4 win over No. 13 Notre Dame-West Haven on Friday in the Division M opening round in West Haven.

Warde-- battling in its first state tournament game in its program's seven-year history-- overcame a 2-1, first-quarter deficit to improve to 9-8.

"I didn't know what to expect," Warde coach Tom Cunningham said. "We played like we'd done it before."

Nine wins is also a Warde single-season record.

"It's big for our program," Cunningham said. "The more wins we get this year, the stronger our program becomes and the more respectability we generate."

Junior Jack Bambach scored three goals and Matt Petroccio tallied a goal and two assists, as seven different Warde players registered points.

"It was an all-around team effort," Cunningham said. "We took the game over."

Warde advances to Wednesday's first round against No. 4 East Lyme.

Cunningham is not worried about his club's 60-plus mile trek to East Lyme, citing Warde's 7-3 road record thus far this year.

"Being the away team hasn't created too many difficulties," he said. "We're happy to play anywhere."

ppickens@bcnnew.com; twitter.com/Pat_Pickens

Class M qualifying round

FAIRFIELD WARDE 1 2 4 1--8

ND-WEST HAVEN 2 1 0 1--4

Records: Fairfield Warde 9-8, ND-West Haven 9-8. Scoring: FW--Jack Bambach (3g), Matt Petroccio (1 goal, 2 assists), Brendan King (1g, 2a), Tommy Fitzpatrick (1g), Jake Freilich (1g), Mike Pehota (1g), Mike Adams (1a); NDWH--Dylan McGuinness (2g), Sean Quinn (2g), Will Palmieri (1a). Goalies: FW--Jason Nerreau (12 saves); NDWH--Paul Sliwinsky (8).