RallyNorth.net

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Londonderry coach Bob Slater's decision to make Josie Bezeredy an attack this spring certainly was a good one.

Bezeredy, who played defensive wing and midfield during last spring and throughout the first three years of her high school career, had a breakout year offensively with 45 goals.

And Bezeredy provided the Lancers with a big spark offensively when it mattered the most: during the Division 1 title game yesterday.

The senior netted four goals — three in the second half — as Londonderry won its second straight Division 1 title with an 8-3 victory over Pinkerton before 545 at Southern New Hampshire University.

Londonderry capped off a perfect 19-0 season, a collapse that Bezeredy actually thought about before her team took the field against Pinkerton.

"That (Super Bowl) did cross my mind," she said. "But I knew we could do it. It's almost too good to be true."

The last time that Londonderry lost was April 18, 2009 when it dropped an out-of-state game against Framingham.

The Lancers led 3-2 at halftime yesterday. Bezeredy increased the lead to 4-2 with an unassisted goal 4:34 into the second half.

Dana Boyle scored less than five minutes later to put the Lancers ahead 5-2.

Bezeredy, who has been playing lacrosse since the third grade, then scored two more goals in the next 2:09 to put the game out of reach at 7-2.

Bezeredy stands at just 5-feet, so she can't beat defenders high. She instead goes low.

"It's easier to get under," she said, talking about her height. "But it's harder to pass and see where other people are."

Londonderry's Marcie Marino said about Bezeredy: "She holds her own well. She is great at wrapping the goal. That's like her main thing to do is wrap the goal. And she is really, really quick. She is one of our fastest players. When she gets the ball, she can dodge anyone because she is so fast."

Bezeredy is headed to UNH next year, and does not know yet whether she will try out for the lacrosse team.

Slater said she should.

"She's powerful, quick, tough," Slater said. "She's got it all. She can play at UNH. The coach wants her to try out. We talked last week with (UNH head coach) Mike Daly and he'd really like to see her come out for the team. We're hoping she thinks about it. That's a big decision on her part."

Bezeredy scored 45 goals this year after scoring 23 last spring.

Bezeredy scored in every game this season. Her most productive effort came Duxbury on May 15 with five goals.

"She plays well every game," Slater said about Bezeredy. "We moved her (to attack) because of her ability and what we had in the midfield."

Marino added two goals, Boyle had one and Jenny Thompson scored one.

"It's just a total team package," Slater said. "When you can do that (19-0) with a team in high school lacrosse, it's pretty phenomenal. You're not looking for two key players to go to goal. The way they developed as a group and a team (is great). We didn't lose a scrimmage. We didn't lose in Florida. I don't know of another team that can do that. And we played Mass teams. We didn't just stay in state and play the regulars."

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