INSTANT CLASSIC: Pierre goal wins it for Malden Boys LAX in Triple-Overtime, 8-7

Thrilling finish for Tornados; Rosa makes 27 saves for Malden in victory

By Steve Freker

There’s no question where this one will sit on Malden High Head Coach Jon Copithorne’s “Mount Rushmore” of Boys Lacrosse victories. With less than a minute to go in the third overtime period at frigid Manning Field in Lynn, Golden Tornados senior Zaden Pierre picked up a loose ball on the Lynn doorstep and stuffed it in for the game-winning goal to propel Malden to an 8-7 win in the season and Greater Boston League opener.

An “Instant Classic,” for sure. An instant, cherished memory for Coach Copithorne as well. “Oh yeah, that’s already one of my favorite wins since I have been here,” the 10th-year Tornado lacrosse boss told The Advocate.

Triple-Overtime? Season opener? League opener? This one had it all and it was easy to see why.

“The best part about it was that we stayed tough all the way to the end,” Coach Copithorne said. “We kept coming back each time we went down on the scoreboard and that was a great sign heading into overtime.”

One of the biggest factors besides the opponent was the weather, with the near 30 mph winds turning an already cold Manning Field into a meat locker, with the wind chill making the “RealFeel” temperature at about 17 degrees.

The scoring was sparingly low in the first half, 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 at halftime. Lynn was generating more shots than Malden, but senior netminder Ben Rosa stayed solid in the Tornado goal.

Rosa, the all-time career save leader for Tornado Boys Lacrosse, added to his totals with 27 saves Tuesday evening. “Ben [Rosa] was solid for us [Tuesday night],” Coach Copithorne said.

Malden needed a spark late in regulation with about 2:30 left to play and trailing Lynn, 7-5. The Tornados stepped up and scored two goals to tie the game at 7-7. Pierre, who finished with three goals, fired a score in from the wing with 1:35 left to make it 7-6, Lynn. Thomas Cook tied it up with a direct shot on net off a pass from Malden eighth-grader Justin Hurley with under a minute to play in regulation.

The first and second OT periods were uneventful, with few real scoring opportunities for either team. Rosa turned back several Lynn shots in each period. Malden could not generate a solid scoring opportunity.

In OT #3, Pierre finally broke through. The play started behind the net and Pierre passed it out. There was a scrum for the loose ball to the right of the Lynn net. Pierre was able scoop it and move toward the net, then found himself alone with a clean look and stuffed it in to end the game with a Malden win.

Pierre (three goals, two assists) led the Malden scoring, nailing the game-winner in the third OT. Cook also scored three goals for Malden and eighth grader Justin Hurley scored two goals.

“It was exciting for the kids and for the coaches, for sure,” Coach Copithorne said, recalling a FIVE-Overtime loss to Salem in the 2023 season. “We historically do not do so great in overtime games, but [Tuesday night] we did!”

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Malden Boys Lacrosse was right back in action with a road trip to play the Northeast Metro Tech Golden Knights on Wednesday afternoon. Coach Copithorne’s Tornados will finish a busy week with a third game – also on the road – tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Lowell’s Lucas Carvalho Field. Next week Malden returns to Greater Boston League play starting Monday, April 14 at home versus Somerville (Pine Banks, 4:00 p.m.); at Revere Thursday, April 17 (4:00 p.m.) and Friday, April 18 at Tech Boston, Harambee Park, Franklin Field (4:00 p.m.).