Samek Scores Game Winner in Third OT

It took three overtimes, but the sixth-seeded boys’ lacrosse team advanced to the Division 2 East quarterfinals with a 6-5 win over No. 22 Bishop Feehan at

After a Bishop Feehan turnover, Winchester’s Jesse Samek provided the game winner off a pass from teammate Brendan Kelley about three minutes into the third four-minute, sudden-death frame.

The Sachems (14-5) won’t be able to celebrate long, as they’ll travel to No. 3 Hingham (18-4) Tuesday for a 5 p.m. game. During the regular season, Hingham, of the Patriot League, beat Winchester 14-6. However, since that game, Winchester has won 11 of 12.

On Saturday, Winchester and Bishop Feehan, a Catholic high school in Attleboro, were knotted at 2-2 at the half, despite the Sachems dominating possession early and eventually throughout the game.

Winchester’s Alex Kohn and Chris O’Connell netted first-half goals. O’Connell off a pass from goalie Alex Sharp, who ran all the way down into Bishop Feehan’s defensive zone before passing.

In the third quarter, Winchester took a 5-3 lead, as Samek, O’Connell and Eddie Dorr scored, off assists by O’Connell, Kohn and Andrew Laugharn, respectively.

Bishop Feehan’s Sean Daly scored once in the third and then twice in the fourth, including the equalizer with 2 minutes, 20 seconds, left in regulation.

The Sachems were able to control play, but Bishop Feehan’s goalie, Jack Pettine, got the better of most of their shots. He had 19 saves, including six in the fourth quarter and three in the extra frames.

“He was the difference I think in terms of keeping it close,” Winchester coach John Pirani said.

Bishop Feehan (12-6), of the Catholic Conference, upset No. 11 Beverly 6-5 in the tournament’s preliminary round.

“They play together as a team beautifully,” Pirani said. “They know what they want to do, and they do it.”

Winchester prevented Bishop Feehan from putting a shot on goal in the overtimes, as defensemen Peter Troiano and Danny Donovan created a number of turnovers.

Sharp had 12 saves for the Sachems.