Nicholas Lagunowich Reaches HS Career 100 Points in Chatham’s First Round MCT Lacrosse Thumping Over Roxbury

It is Nicholas Lagunowich‘s world, and we are just living in it.

Lagunowich needed seven points to reach the high school career 100-point milestone. After recording six goals and an assist, the sophomore made good on seizing 100 points, while pacing No. 2 seed Chatham High School (N.J.) Boy’s lacrosse team to a lopsided 19-2 victory over Roxbury (3-9) in the first round of New Jersey’s High School Morris County Tournament (MCT) Tuesday evening at home.

Cougar head coach Christian Scarpello said Lagunowich, who now has 47 markers, has been the driving force behind the team’s success. And he has a shot at breaking Chatham’s single season scoring record in less tilts, no less.

“This year, he is obviously crushing it. He’s been scoring four goals a game on average,” Scarpello said. “He is on pace to potentially break the single season goal record in Chatham, which is held by a 2015 graduate (Austin Pierce). He scored 72 goals in 26 games. So, Nick, if we get to the sectional finals, I think, that will put us at 20 games total. So, obviously, if he’s able to break that in six less games, that’s impressive.”

Junior Kyle Gibney contributed four tallies and four helpers (eight points) to add to the Cougars’ outstanding offensive onslaught.

Lagunowich, known affectionately as Nicky Lax by his teammates, said he was relieved to finally hit the achievement. Plus, he said that he loves Chatham’s chances of capturing its first MCT lacrosse title in program history due to its overall optimistic attitude and winning ways of late.

“It feels great to get that out of the way,” Lagunowich said of recording 100 points. “We got a really good vibe around the team this year. It’s going great; a lot of momentum, a lot of confidence. We can definitely make a run here.”

Lagunowich scored the first two markers of the game for an early 2-0 lead. Sophomore Charlie Dunn and Gibney each found the back of the net for 4-0 advantage with 3:06 to go in the first quarter.

Then, the Cougars (10-2) went on an unprecedented 10-0 run to give the squad a commanding 14-0 lead at the break.

Lagunowich scored the first goal of the third period before the Gaels broke through for the first time in the matchup to make it 15-1 with 7:22 remaining in the quarter.

Next, senior Declan Leahy responded with a tally of his own, while Roxbury narrowed the deficit to 16-2. Lagunowich then capped off his monumental evening with his final score, securing a commanding 17-2 lead in the closing moments of the third period.

Chatham extended its lead with two more goals, followed by another pair in the fourth quarter. One of those came courtesy of sophomore Jack Burdorf, a Scarpello junior varsity call-up, who donned the number four—just like Lagunowich.

The Cougars will host Mendham Thursday in a yet to be determined time in the MCT quarterfinal round.

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— Jerry Del Priore