The much-anticipated matchup between lacrosse powers Brunswick School and Darien, was a game featuring nationally ranked teams competing in inclement weather and Darien resident Hunter Hanford helped the Bruins reign in the rain.

Hanford excelled in his home town, scoring a team-high four goals to propel visiting Brunswick past Darien, 11-8. Brunswick, which is ranked No. 2 in the USA Lacrosse High School Boys’ National Top 25 Rankings, extended its winning streak to eight games and is 6-1 in its last seven meetings against the Blue Wave dating back to the 2019 season.

Darien has a record of 7-2 and is ranked sixth in USA Lacrosse High School National Public School rankings. Brunswick held a 3-0 lead on Darien after the first quarter, was ahead, 4-3, at halftime and led, 8-7 following three quarters of action.

“It’s always a great game,” Brunswick coach David Bruce said. It’s awesome to win, it’s a fun atmosphere. The intensity is always alive.”

Senior midfielder Rick Giordano, sophomore attack Austin Tuttle and sophomore midfielder David Giuriceo scored two goals apiece for the Bruins, who received three assists from senior attack Lucas Garcia and one goal from sophomore middie Kevin Ryan.

All four of Hanford’s goals came during the second half of action, as he tallied twice in the third and fourth quarter.

“It’s definitely high intensity, even playing a team in the town I live in – my hometown – it’s an insane experience to play against a very good, intense Darien team,” Hanford said. “The team came together today and we got a big ‘W.’

Darien was paced by a four-goal, one assist performance by Ryan Thurlow. Senior attack Max McBride added one goal and one assist, as did junior attack Henry Jeffers for the Blue Wave, who closed to within one goal of the Bruins several times.

The Bruins’ defensive unit was sound throughout against the Blue Wave, which always possesses a formidable offense/attack.

“They’re very quick, they like to sweep a lot, it’s all communication, body positioning and you’ve got to be able to match them and get a stick on their hands and lock them down,” said Bruins senior captain/defender John Buttafuoco, one of the anchors of the squad’s defense.

Senior goalie William Connell rose to the occasion once again for ‘Wick, making impressive saves at especially significant moments to keep the visiting Bruins ahead on the scoreboard.

“Connell played another great game and our defense played very well in the closing six or seven minutes,” Bruce noted following the Bruins’ 11th win of the season.

Giuriceo opened the scoring for Brunswick, tallying off an assist from Garcia, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter. Garcia, a captain, set Kevin Ryan up for a goal late in the first quarter, making it 2-0 in favor of the Bruins.

Giordano’s first goal came at the 8:57 mark of the second quarter, putting the Bruins on top, 3-0. Patience and poise on offense was one of the key aspects for Brunswick since the game was played without a shot clock. Brunswick plays with a shot clock in its NEPSAC games and all of its matchups, but CIAC lacrosse does not feature a shot clock.

“The team played great, it was tough without a shot clock,” said Garcia, who will continue his lacrosse career at the University of Virginia. “The big thing for us was holding possession and be patient on offense.”

“They played a zone defense, so we kind of went into a 3-3 and then at half, we switched to a 1-4-1,” Garcia continued. “We had two-minute penalties and we wanted to rotate the defense as much as we could until we had an easy look inside and that’s what we did.”

Thurlow got the Blue Wave on the scoreboard with a goal at the 6:39 mark of the second quarter, making it 3-1. Goals by senior Wes Scallen and Thurlow tied the score at 3-3 late in the second stanza. Giordano’s second tally late in the second quarter, gave ‘Wick a 4-3 advantage going into halftime.

“It took being a little bit more patient on offense,” Bruce said. “We don’t see zone a ton, so it took us a little while to figure out how to play it. We got the ball inside and behind and we were able to sneak some through.”

Hanford converted a shot from approximately 15 yards out after catching a pass from sophomore midfielder Sawyer Bligh, giving the Bruins a 5-3 lead with 9:08 to go in the third quarter. Tuttle tallied 22 seconds later after Brunswick senior Owen Gibbons won the ensuing faceoff and Hanford scored off another pass from Bligh, stretching Brunswick’s advantage to 7-3.

“We definitely had energy, we were prepared for this game and we just wanted to come out firing,” Hanford noted. “It’s definitely difficult with a zone defense, but coach Bruce and all the coaches, helped us prepare this week for a big ‘W’ versus Darien.”

Goals by Thurlow and Hopkins, cut the Bruins’ lead to 7-5 and after Tuttle generated another goal, the Blue Wave got goals from Thurlow and Jefffers, making it an 8-7 matchup. McBride found the back of the net with a shot with 8:36 remaining in the final quarter, knotting the score at 8-8.

Then the Bruins made their move, closing out the game strong.

Eluding Blue Wave defenders, Hanford tallied off a shot from approximately 10 yards out, giving Brunswick the lead for good at 9-8 with 6:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Giuriceo scored off a slick behind-the-back shot at the 4:13 mark of the final quarter and Hanford capped the scoring with a goal with 3:36 remaining.

“Darien-Brunswick, it’s always a rivalry whenever we play,” Buttafuoco said. “They always look to play us and play us good and that’s what they did today. They went 100 percent, we matched them as best we could and it paid out for us.”

Brunswick, the No. 2-ranked team in the nation and the No. 1-ranked team in the USA Lacrosse Northeast Rankings, play another Connecticut Public High School on Thursday (April 30th). The Bruins will travel to Westport to face Staples High School.

“We have to keep a steady pace throughout the season and hopefully, just looking forward ahead to Prep Nationals and hopefully, we can bring home that trophy,” Buttafuoco said.