SPORTS

Hawks looking to hit ‘hot streak’ as playoffs approach

By ALEX SPONSELLER
Posted 5/18/23

The Bishop Hendricken boys lacrosse team’s regular season is winding down and the Hawks are shifting their focus toward next week’s Division I playoffs.

Hendricken has a young roster …

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SPORTS

Hawks looking to hit ‘hot streak’ as playoffs approach

Posted

The Bishop Hendricken boys lacrosse team’s regular season is winding down and the Hawks are shifting their focus toward next week’s Division I playoffs.

Hendricken has a young roster this season made up of primarily juniors. The Hawks took some early season lumps but have begun finding their rhythm as they currently sit in fifth place with a 4-7 league record.

“We had some growing pains throughout the season as a fairly young team. There were a handful of close games that didn’t go our way but it was definitely a good learning opportunity for the young guys,” said first-year head coach Matt Clifford, who is a former Hendricken standout and took the reins from former coach Dave Haddeland.

Hendricken recently handed out their end of the year athletic honors. The Scott Shemenski Award, which is handed out to standout senior lacrosse players, went to Andrew Barboza and Stephen Nardelli for their big seasons. The L CPL Eric P. Valdepenas Award, which is given to a member of the lacrosse team who is an unsung hero, went to Connor Shao, who was also recently appointed to the Naval Academy.

As the Hawks prepare for the next leg of the competition, Clifford will be relying on his small senior core to continue to lead the way.

“I think the older guys have done a good job of explaining the importance, every little play is more important. I’ve tried to stress to the kids that mistakes will be made, it’s a fast game, so you just have to go to the next play and try to make it up. It’s starting to get through to the guys that the mistakes have to lesson,” said Clifford.

Clifford has also been proud of the team’s mental toughness throughout the season, including in high pressure situations against some of the state’s best clubs.

“We have a good opportunity in these last few games to take some steps in the right direction. Hopefully we can hit a hot streak and ride that momentum into the playoffs. They have that ‘no quit’ attitude. We have had some really tight games and they have kept their composure and they have never really wavered,” Clifford said. “They are locked into what each guy needs to do and that has paid off in some of these wins.”

Hendricken took on North Kingstown for its Senior Night on Wednesday, but the results were not available at press time.

Hawks, lacrosse, LAX

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