The driver's seat has been filled and the road to the Final Four is crowded with the passengers of seven other lacrosse teams fighting for a shotgun seat, or at least a better view out the window.

     Coming down the final stretch of the PVLL season, the Westfield Cranx were in good position to occupy that shotgun seat and secure a second place seed in the PVLL playoffs behind first place driver Glastonbury (10-0). With three home games remaining in the regular season, Team Cranx had a difficult, yet good chance at winning all three and securing that #2 spot. However, on Tuesday night, the Hogs of Newington were anything but willing participants in Westfield's plans. The Hogs unlocked a 5-5 tie with :23 remaining in the game to hand the Cranx their third loss of the season and a 6-5 defeat, which turns about the playoff picture every which way but loose.

     Cranx goalie Matt Hoffman made his 12th save of the game, but the rebound fell right in front of a Newington attackman, who slap-shotted in the garbage goal.

     "It's tough losing a game that way" said defenseman Mike Piccin. "But it was indicative of the whole game. They just seemed to make good things out of all the little chances they got, we didn't."

      Coming into the game, both Westfield and Newington were tied in leading the league in fewest goals allowed. And this game lived up to its statistical proof. In a defensive battle from start to finish, the Cranx defense of Piccin, Nick Allegretti, Geoff Moore, and Rich Borsari played arguably their best game of the year. Unfortunately, while the defense shined, the Cranx offense sputtered against the equally talented Hog defense. 

      Newington struck first three minutes into the game, before Westfield scored on a man-up opportunity, with Chris Roberts tickling the twine off an assist from John Funaro to make it 1-1. The Hogs would score twice more to retake the lead 3-1, but Team Cranx drew another penalty, and again took advantage. Tim Gaylord rocketed a goal off an Andy Liptak assist just before the quarter ended, to send Westfield into the second quarter down 3-2.

     In the second, there were much fewer shot attempts from both clubs, and more defensive dominance. Both goalies were stellar between the pipes and more defensive pressure led to a take-away frenzy, as ground balls were as common as facial hair on Dan Balboni. Each team scored just once in the period, with Westfield's goal a result of another Newington penalty, this time with Funaro feeding Nick Bonavita for the tally.

     "It was really a grind-it-out game" said Bonavita afterward. "Every possession was a tough one, both for them and for us. It was like a heavyweight fight with a lot of punches thrown, but not a lot that scored any points." Bonavita played his typical solid game at midfield on both ends of the field, and also totaled seven ground balls, where otherwise, the Hogs dominated 35-21.

      With the Cranx down 4-3 to open the second half, the heavyweight fight continued, as Westfield would score the only goal of the third quarter. After Gaylord scrummed for a ground ball, he found Roberts who found Funaro who found the back of the net to tie the game at 4-4. Team Cranx had their share of chances throughout the fourth quarter to pull ahead, but it wasn't to be. The third pipe shot of the night and a few passing mishaps in the offensive end were costly. The Hogs scored first in the period at the 12:40 mark to break the tie. It wasn't until seven minutes later when westfield finally answered. Gaylord assisted Joe Lancour's goal to knot the game once again at 5-5. Subsequent thwarted offenses chances on Westfield's part left Newbury with the game-winning slapshot, which unluckily scooted passed Hoffman. With :23 remaining, the Cranx won the ensuing face-off, but were unable to get off a shot.

      The Cranx record now stands at 7-3, tied for third place with Wilbraham and Simsbury Rip It. The Hogs improved to 6-4. With two regular season games remaining, and the parity of the eight playoff-bound teams, the Cranx potentially could be seeded as high as #2 for the playoffs or conceivably be left out altogether if they lose both games. Team Goat visits Westfield Thursday as July Madness continues...

Cranx Stomp Franklin 14-3