Bishop Guertin's Nate Kane leads the celebration after the Cards beat Exeter 9-7 for the Division I crown. (Photo by Andrew Sylvia)

BEDFORD – A perfect ending to a perfect season.

The Cardinals of Bishop Guertin became 2021 NHIAA Division I Boys’ Lacrosse Champions on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Exeter Blue Hawks, 9-7.

Exeter stymied the Cardinals early, exiting the first quarter with a 4-0 lead through a cautious possession-focused approach.

Although Exeter had a high-tempo offense for most of the year, Bishop Guertin Head Coach Chris Cameron believes this more conservative approach early in Saturday’s contest was a conscious decision after Bishop Guertin’s 21-8 road win against Exeter in early May, the first of two Bishop Guertin wins in a week against Exeter.

“They were very efficient and disciplined in that offense playing slow, which I didn’t know how they’d do with, because they’ve blown everyone out this year, they like playing fast,” said Cameron. “The first time we played them and blew them out 21-8, they were trying to play fast and it just didn’t work, so I knew this is the way it would go.”

Despite that early advantage, Exeter Head Coach Gerry Holly knew that his squad couldn’t let its guard down.

“I told our guys this game that this game isn’t over and it’s all up to how we respond when they start scoring goals. I think they responded well, they battled and stayed right in this game until the end.”

The Blue Hawks’ methodical approach couldn’t hold out, as Bishop Guertin’s dominance in faceoffs began to take its toll, with the Cardinals ultimately winning 18 of 20 faceoffs during the contest. Bishop Guertin senior Jon Krikorian getting the Cardinals on the board with 9:25 left in the first half. Bishop Guertin would score the next five goals to head into halftime with the lead.

Exeter senior Connor Holly tied up the contest early in the third quarter, but Bishop Guertin senior Declan Wilkie tied things up again three minutes after Holly’s goal.

Bishop Guertin senior Michael Kiely scored seconds into the fourth quarter to give Bishop Guertin the lead once and for all, as the Cardinals copied Exeter’s approach late, holding the ball excluding clear scoring opportunities to milk as much of the clock as possible. Up 9-6, Guertin late ran 3:30 off the clock before calling time out with 2:17 to play.

Krikorian, senior Tanner McLaughlin and senior Chris Heitmiller each had two goals for Bishop Guertin. Holly and senior Jake Mantell each had two goals for Exeter.

To the Blue Hawks’ credit, Saturday marked the first time Bishop Guertin was held under 10 goals all season. It was also only the fourth time Exeter was held under 10 goals this season, with Exeter losing 12-6 in their second loss to Bishop Guertin in May and winning 9-7 against Pinkerton shortly before the post-season.

Exeter ends the season 15-3 including the post-season, with all three losses coming against Bishop Guertin.

The win gave Bishop Guertin their tenth state championship in boys’ lacrosse and their first ever boy-girls sweep of the sport as the Cardinal girls won the Division I crown beating Pinkerton last week in the finals. They, too went unbeaten.

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