BY SAPNA PATHAK
This year’s Pelham boys lacrosse team is the first that will breathe a bit easier before each game. That’s because it’s the first time the Pythons have a head coach who truly knows how to teach the game.
That’s not a knock on the fourth-year program’s two previous head coaches, but Roger Sampson’s addition brings lax some prominence in Pelham spring athletics.
“The program was done the first two years by the head football coach because he was willing to try something interesting, and it was helpful to keep his football players active in spring,” said Sampson. “It just wasn’t his first sport, which is fine, because he’s a great football coach. This year, after the first practice they knew I knew what I was talking about, and they know things will be different because of my background.”
That background includes five years coaching lacrosse at Londonderry High, three years coaching in the Londonderry youth lacrosse program and one year coaching in Merrimack.
Sampson takes over for 2006 coach Matt Regan, who had 12 players on the one-win team.
This year’s turnout swelled Sampson’s squad to 24 players, three of whom were out for the team’s season opener on Wednesday, April 11. The Pythons fell, 9-3, to Division III opponent Milford, but Sampson said the team’s performance was encouraging.
“They did everything I coached them to do. They executed the things I taught them, until they got tired,” said Sampson. “When you’re fatigued you forget what to do, and now I need to work with them on keeping the endurance during games.”
Against the Spartans, senior captain Kyle Roman put away two of Pelham’s three goals. Senior attackman Mike Peters added one goal before Milford pulled away midway through the third period.
Senior Billy DeBenetetto and Roman help lead Pelham’s seniors and three juniors. Seven sophomores and seven freshmen round out the roster.
Sophomore Billy Helliwell and juniors Jake Corbin, Billy Sullivan and Danny Trainer should anchor the offense. Goalie Andrew Keegan, with 20 saves against Milford, will work with defensemen Sean Paradis, Robert Riddinger, Mike Woonton and Chris Ziogas.
“They did five to 10 hours of classroom instruction, and we had pre-practices and then regular practices,” said Sampson of the preseason regimen. “But they’re dedicated to getting better, and the parents have been so supportive. There’s no feeder program in Pelham, so that’ll be hard to overcome. But I want to work towards having a youth lacrosse program in town someday.”