Jinx-defying North Smithfield boys lacrosse downs Lincoln for program first crown

PROVIDENCE — North Smithfield boys lacrosse had championship hats on deck.

A risky move for the Northmen vying for their first lacrosse championship on the heels of previous title losses. But the jinx-defying Northmen were ready for Saturday and left donning the new apparel on a crowning night at Stevenson Field at Brown University.

No. 1 North Smithfield (16-1) built its advantage in the third quarter and weathered second-seeded Lincoln’s late push for a 5-3 triumph in the Division IV championship. After finishing runner-up in 2021 and 2022, the Northmen finally add to their trophy case.

“We had two heartbreaking losses my sophomore year and my junior year,” North Smithfield senior, Kellan Halliwell said.

“That was heartbreaking to watch my seniors go home. This just felt great to get a win. [We’ve] been working at this for years straight and I knew this was the year we were going to take it home.”

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North Smithfield looked like it was on its way to a convincing win after Camden Governo tallied the opening goal just over a minute in and Halliwell dumped in the second on the rush after the Northmen won the faceoff.

But Casey Acciardo scored with 1:26 left in the frame and Matthew Harmon knotted the contest a few minutes into the second quarter. A blowout win was never in the cards between these top seeds as North Smithfield beat Lincoln at home in five overtimes, 3-2, and then topped the Lions by just three goals in May.

“All of my teammates in years past, all of this work is because of them,” Nathan Gravel said. “They built me up, I started my freshman year and I had never picked up a lacrosse stick before. They pushed me through everything.”

Tied at two-all, Halliwell pushed up the left side and flipped a helper across the crease to Owen Dubuc, who buried the shot with 5:49 left in the first half. The Northmen went back-to-back on scores before the break as Judah Corriveau’s shot from distance was redirected by Gravel for a 4-2 halftime lead.

“We wanted it so bad and I told my coach at the beginning of the season we're going to get it,” Halliwell said. “We got to captain's practice early. We got on the field 12 times before the season started and just worked.”

The third frame went nearly scoreless as Lincoln dominated time of possession. The Lions (14-4) methodical approach worked, but they weren’t able to find the net against North Smithfield’s defense and goalkeeper, Karter Chartier.

“We knew that coming in that they wanted to hold the ball a lot and get specific plays,” Halliwell said. “But when you’re bigger, stronger, faster, that's what happens.”

Dubuc, a freshman, tallied his second score of the night with 1:20 left in the third stanza to cap North Smithfield’s scoring. And over the final 12 minutes, Lincoln only scraped together Domino Costa’s man-up goal four minutes in.

The loss is the second consecutive runner-up finish for Lincoln, who was also searching for the program’s first title.

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But it was North Smithfield’s turn and they had the hats to prove it.

“I was ecstatic,” Gravel said. “I just ran across the field to hug [Chartier] because he's the one that kept us in this game. And the whole entire team they fought their hardest.”

jrousseau@providencejournal.com

On X: @ByJacobRousseau

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Smithfield boys lacrosse wins 2024 Division IV title vs Lincoln