Following a three-week span in which it played six of its first seven games on the road, the Greenwich High School boys varsity lacrosse team finally returned to Cardinal Stadium this week and the result was two impressive, much-needed victories for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals hosted Joel Barlow High School in a non-conference game on Thursday (May 1) and rolled to a decisive 13-6 victory, then edged visiting FCIAC foe Fairfield Ludlowe in a back-and-forth battle today (May 3), 9-8, in a significant FCIAC game.

Winners of four consecutive games, Greenwich has an overall record of 6-4 and an FCIAC mark of 2-2. In the Cardinals’ convincing win against Joel Barlow, it held a 3-0 lead after the first quarter, took a 6-0 advantage into halftime and was ahead, 11-1, following three quarters of action. Senior attack Mikey Brescia recorded four goals and two assists, while junior attack Dean Kim tallied four goals and one assist to help power Greenwich’s offense against Barlow.

“Coming off Ridgefield (a 17-7 Greenwich road loss on April 24), we had to look at ourselves in the mirror and we’re working every day in practice and getting better,” Brescia said after the Cards’ triumph against Joel Barlow. “We’re building every game and starting to come along. Tonight, it was just clicking for us on offense.”

Junior defender/midfielder Boden Farmer recorded two goals and one assist, while senior Guy Germain had one goal and one assist for the Cardinals. Chris Marinaccio, a senior and Josh Agredo, a sophomore added one goal apiece for the victors.

“We came out really strong and I’m proud of what we did in the first quarter, the first half,” Kim said. “We kept it rolling through the third quarter, which I was very proud of.”

Junior Trent O’Neil assisted on two goals, while senior Colin Zeller, freshman Max Townsend and Johnson each had one assist for the soaring Cardinals. Brady Craven, a junior, won 11 of the 19 faceoffs he took and senior goalie Ilan Amaro made seven saves behind a stellar defensive showing for the Cardinals.

“It was good, we got a couple of good wins in a row and we’re working our way to some FCIAC teams,” Greenwich coach Bobby Lutz said. “It’s good preparation for some good games coming up.”

Farmer, senior Chase Inesta, senior Marco Soares, sophomore Alex Neitzell and freshman Evit Straus were among some of the defenders that propelled Greenwich’s defensive unit versus Barlow.

“The defense has been a work in progress and we’re happy with the way it’s progressing,” Lutz said. “We only have three returning starters, so these guys are a little bit new to working together, but they are jelling. They showed that they can stop a good team. We just have to keep heading in the right direction.”

Said Brescia of the squad’s defensive performance: “They put in so much time they bring the energy every day, they challenge us and it was just a great effort by them, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Greenwich entered its home game against Fairfield Ludlowe with plenty of optimism after its strong play of late.

“Ludlowe is a tough opponent, but there’s nothing we can’t handle,” Kim noted. “I’m confident in my teammates.”

“Ludlowe is always competitive with all those Tier one teams,” Lutz said. “We always seem to play them well, but they’re clicking right now.”

Greenwich, indeed, played formidable Fairfield Ludlowe well today (May 3) on its way to pulling out the victory.

Brescia recorded a hat trick with one assist, as did Farmer against the Falcons. Kim added two goals and two assists and Marinaccio had one goal in the winning effort at Cardinal Stadium.

Zeller, Germain and O’Neil each assisted on one goal, while Amaro made six saves in goal. Up next for Greenwich is a home matchup against conference opponent St. Joseph on May 6 at 5 p.m. The Cardinals will then host rival New Canaan on May 8 at 5 p.m., before traveling to Notre Dame-West Haven May 10.