SHOOTING STAR: Hun School boys’ lacrosse player Brendan Marino heads to goal in a 2022 game. Last Thursday, junior attackman Marino tallied four goals to help Hun defeat Hillsborough High 15-6. The Raiders, who improved to 1-1 with the win, will be playing at Haddonfield on April 13, at the Peddie School on April 15, and at Notre Dame on April 17. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

For Brendan Marino, a native of Peterborough, Ontario, his athletic versatility is a product of his Canadian upbringing.

This winter, junior Marino starred on the ice for the Hun School hockey team, tallying 19 points on 11 goals and eight assists. Taking his athleticism to the lacrosse field in the spring, Marino had developed into the key attackman for the Raiders.

“My whole life I have played both, hockey is really big in Canada and then it is lacrosse in the summer,” said Marino. “I go from one sport to the next. I like it because you get to focus on hockey and then play lacrosse. It is a bit of balance.”

Last Thursday as Hun hosted Hillsborough, Marino played very well, tallying four goals to help Hun post a 15-6 win and bounce back from a 24-6 loss to the Lawrenceville School a day earlier in its season opener.

“It was definitely good to get out here, it was a good team effort,” said Marino, who tallied two goals to help Hun start the game with a 6-2 run. “We were all doing our part, following coach’s (Jim Stagnitta) plan, and it worked.”

With Hun clinging to a 6-4 halftime lead, the Raiders broke the game open by outscoring Hillsborough 6-1 in the third quarter.

“We want to win, we want to compete,” said Marino, reflecting on the third quarter outburst. “We want to be the best we can.”

Marino has quickly developed a connection with Ryan Demato, a postgraduate who previously starred for St. Augustine.

“I really like playing with him, he has got a good eye for the open players,” said Marino.

Coming south to Hun has helped Marino become a better player.

“It is my second year on the team, it has been really good,” said Marino, who has committed to attend Stony Brook and play for its men’s lacrosse program. “I think I have improved a lot, it has been good to be down here with guys and learn from them. I am just trying to help the team as best I can.”

Hun head coach Jim Stagnitta believes that his squad took some important lessons from the tough defeat to Lawrenceville.

“We learned a lot from it,” said Stagnitta, noting that such key players as Danny Cano and Andrew Heubeck, among others, are sidelined by injury. “I thought we were a little bit more settled today and a little more patient and showed a little more composure. We were able to make some adjustments. It is early, we need some guys back.”

Stagnitta credited Demato and Marino with helping the Hun attack settle in against Hillsborough.

“Today was the first time Demato has really taken over. He was really aggressive, I thought he did a great job,” said Stagnitta, noting that Demato has committed to play for University of Maryland, Baltimore County. “Marino has just been getting better and better. He is committed and he keeps improving.”

Hun showed improvement on the defensive end as well. “We were able to grind it out today with those poles,” said Stagnitta, whose team plays at Haddonfield on April 13, at the Peddie School on April 15, and at Notre Dame on April 17. “I was happy with the defense, the Guida (Charles Guida) kid did a great job. Colin Gillen was terrific. He is one of our most athletic guys. He must have picked up 10 ground balls and had a couple of assists and started some unsettled stuff.”

Looking ahead, Marino is confident that he will keep showing some good stuff.

“I think as long as we follow what coach tells us and we work hard, we should be all right,” said Marino.