PEABODY — Ally Bettencourt was adamant, and passionate, in the Peabody High girls lacrosse team’s pregame huddle.
Yes, it was the biggest game of the season thus far, she said. But the Tanners were not playing simply to win a game, extend a winning streak, or to even win a conference title. They were playing for some something even bigger.
Peabody dedicated Monday’s Northeastern Conference clash with Beverly to the Dirty Hands Project. It’s a non-profit dedicated to the memory of Essex Tech graduate Ty Moughan, who died by suicide at age 18 last August.
There was a raffle to raise money and the girls wore T-shirts with the Dirty Hands logo for pregame warmups. Most had green ribbons painted on their arms or wore green bands wrapped around their legs to show support for mental health awareness.
“Ty’s mom is my mom’s best friend so this cause was very close to family, specifically. So I brought it to the team that this was much more than a lacrosse game,” said Bettencourt. “We were playing to break the stigma about teen suicide awareness. It was for people everywhere that are struggling, and that really motivated everybody.”
Riding a wave of momentum that carried it through a dominant second quarter, Peabody downed the visiting Panthers, 14-10, on Coley Lee Field. A 9-1 run that spanned the first and second quarters put the Tanners (12-2) in control on the way to their 12th consecutive victory.
Junior captain Brooke Lomasney netted seven goals with one assist to pace Peabody offensively while Bettencourt scored four times with two assists. Madi Barrett scored two and senior captain Katie Amico notched one.
During that decisive 9-1 run, Bettencourt finished a number of free position shots and Lomasney got free for several goals off nice passing action. Given the tenacious defense of Beverly (13-4), the Tanners were determined to slow the game down and avoid rushed shots that might lead to turnovers.
“Beverly’s so good and so well coached that we really had to make sure we brought the ball back and dictated those cuts,” Peabody coach Michelle Roach said. “Patience, control and possession were our focus.”
It was a dream start for the Panthers, who scored the game’s first three goals. Always dangerous Lily Shea deposited a free position shot in the opening minute and senior captain Jenna Schweizer netted two more as the visitors were in complete control early.
“Jenna is always everywhere,” said Beverly head coach Courtney McKallagat, whose midfield standout also had a couple interceptions and caused two turnovers. “That roll we started on was hugely thanks to her.”
Peabody goaltender Caitlin Snow made three of her 11 saves in that early period and the Tanners found their stride, getting it to 4-3 by the end of the quarter. One key change was using Barrett for draw controls; she won six and increased possession saw the hosts rattle off six unanswered goals in the second quarter.
“I’d never really taken draws, but we had a specialist come in and teach us. She saw something in me and it really brought up my confidence,” said Barrett. “For me it’s not about strength; it’s quickness. We needed possession today, so winning those balls was big.”
Shutting out an offense as dangerous as Beverly’s for any quarter is a near-impossible task. Besides some eye-popping stops by Snow, Peabody got strong defense from Connie Patturelli, Maia Davis, Kayla Landry and junior Addy Merrill.
“We made a few mental mistakes that we haven’t made lately,” McKallagat said of Beverly’s scoring drought. “Caitlin’s a phenomenal goalie and she made it hard on us. My goalie, Madeline Reynolds, made some great saves, too. They’re two of the best around.”
Leading 9-4 at the break, Peabody extended to 11-4 before Lauren Caley muscled her way to the net and scored Beverly’s first goal in nearly 27 minutes of game time. Shea finished with a team-high four goals for Beverly while Joselyn Silva and Samantha Sprissler each scored once. Caley won six draws and Cameron Koloski controlled five.
The Panthers scored three of the first four goals in the fourth quarter, getting within four with 6:06 to play (13-9) and again on Silva’s tally with 70 seconds left.
On one fourth quarter possession, Reynolds made an amazing save on a free position shot, but Lomasney read her pass, stole it and scored to restore Peabody’s commanding lead.
“It’s all about energy and not having any negative energy,” Lomasney said of her team’s tendency to score in bunches. “We have unreal team chemistry and it shows all throughout the field.”
Morgan Linskey had a tremendous defensive game for Beverly and Reynolds was credited with seven saves.
The Panthers could have tied the Tanners for first place in the NEC standings with a victory
“It hurts in the sense that it’s always been Masco and Marblehead’s league and we’re trying to change the guard a little bit,” McKallagat said. “Peabody’s playing for Dirty Hands and we had a Morgan’s Message game this year, so as coaches we see the bigger picture. We know what these kids put themselves through every day, and it’s great to play with coaches that share that message.”
The respect between the squads, ranked No. 18 (Peabody) and 19 (Beverly) in Division 1, is mutual.
“It’s great to have coaches that support each other and share a vision and also compete hard and clean. That’s exactly what Courtney is,” said Roach. “We’ll be rooting for them the rest of the way, and hopefully we’ll both move up those rankings.”
The Tanners have two league games remaining (at Gloucester and hosting Saugus) and would need only one win to clinch the Northeastern Conference title outright after securing at least a share of it on Monday. It’s the program’s first-ever NEC crown and first girls lacrosse title since winning the Greater Boston League 18 years ago in 2006.
“It makes me really proud to be captain and just be a part of this year,” said Amico. “We have some amazing players that are going to go really far, not just in their careers but in life.”