PHOTO GALLERY: Shepherd Hill vs Algonquin Football

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

NORTHBOROUGH - We will have a full postgame blog up shortly on Shepherd Hill's 61-36 win at Algonquin, but for now, just enjoy a few of these shots from the game. Note that you can click any image to enlarge it and launch a slideshow.

MIAA Football Camp Road Trip: The Algonquin Tomahawks

New Algonquin coach Taylor Allen coaches up running back John Polymeros during the T-Hawks' first day of camp.

By Ethan Winter (@EWints) 

NORTHBOROUGH – While it was certainly a shock when former Algonquin head football coach Justin McKay announced to his team that he would not be returning to coach them next season, the Tomahawks look to continue the progress that McKay has made with the program.

“We were all shocked, it was kind of random but we bounced back from that and it hasn’t set us back at all," running back John Polymeros said. "We are just excited to move on to this year.”

Last season the Tomahawks had their best season since the Dick Walsh coached teams of the 1980s, coming within two games of playing at Gillette Stadium in the Division 2 Super Bowl. Algonquin lost to Mid-Wach A rival Shrewsbury 21-14 in the Division 2 Central Mass final.

The Tomahawks lost 22 seniors and their head coach from that team last year, but even with all the personnel turnover, everything for the most part is staying the same.

2017 Central Mass Lacrosse Preseason All-Stars

Westboro attackman Trevor McNamara will look to build off a monster junior campaign.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It may not always feel like it, but spring has sprung here in the Heart of the Commonwealth, and that means it's time to start talking Central Mass lacrosse.

Though SuiteSports will now be covering the entire state for both lacrosse and baseball (we're expanding!), you know I've got you covered with the best CMass lax coverage you're gonna get anywhere. Be on the lookout for team/league previews, an updated recruiting database, and our first Power Rankings, all coming soon.

Without further ado, here are our preseason CMass All-Stars.

Your MIAA D3 Central Hockey Primer

By Nick Beaudoin (@beaudoin91_)

Ed. Note- SuiteSports is thrilled to welcome our newest correspondent, St. John's (Shrewsbury) alum and current Quinnipiac journalism student Nick Beaudoin. Nick will be manning our Division 3 Central hockey coverage, and was kind enough to provide us with this preview. Welcome aboard Nick!

As the 2017 MIAA hockey playoffs are set to begin, here is your Division 3 Central Mass boys’ preview.

Let’s start with the favorites, the undefeated Shrewsbury Colonials. Entering the playoffs with a tie to Wachusett as their only non-win this season, the Colonials are poised to make a run back to the district final. After a disappointing loss last season to Algonquin in a shootout, head coach Steve Turnblom and his team know what it takes to get back and pull through with a win this time around.

With three of the top five scorers in Central Massachusetts in Matt Ward, and the Quinlivan brothers, Anthony and Liam, offensive firepower will not be lacking for Shrewsbury. If rookie goaltender Pat Shaughnessy can stay hot, there is no team getting in the way of this Colonial squad.

Shrewsbury Takes Down Algonquin, 21-14, in D2 Central Mass Final

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

What a game from two very talented teams out of the CMass D2 bracket. Both teams definitely earned their chances to play here in the regional final. After four quarters of tough battling, Shrewsbury prevailed over Algonquin by a final of 21-14.

Algonquin Clinches Playoff Spot With Upset of Wachusett

By Jason Siegel

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. - The Algonquin Tomahawks dominated the Wachusett Mountaineers in all three phases of the game en route to a 21-6 victory Sunday.

Friday night’s rain and lightning forced the two teams to postpone their game until Sunday.

By handing Wachusett (6-1, 3-1 Mid-Wach A) its first loss of the season, Algonquin (5-2, 3-2 Mid-Wach A) also clinched a spot in the Division 2 playoffs.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Algonquin Outlasts Shrewsbury in Critical Clash

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

SHREWSBURY, Mass. – In a game with playoff and league title implications for both teams, it was visiting Algonquin who made just enough plays to top rival Shrewsbury Friday night.

Check out our full video highlights below.

Postgame Blog: Martens' OT Game-Winner Pushes Algonquin Past Acton-Boxborough

Algonquin senior middie Mike Martens celebrates his game-winning goal.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Just moments after allowing Acton-Boxborough to force overtime with a regulation buzzer-beater, Algonquin scored its biggest win of the season, courtesy of a game-winner from senior captain Mike Martens.

Ed. Note- Complete highlights of this overtime thriller are now up on ESPN Boston, but we have provided highlights of A-B's buzzer-beater and Algonquin's overtime game-winner below.

First-year Algonquin coach Matt Nofsinger essentially gave his senior All-American the green light to go for the score, and when the Colonials came late with the double-team, Martens made them pay with a bottom-shelf goal. The 8-7 overtime victory pushed Algonquin to 4-0, and dropped the Colonials, who have played a murderous early schedule, to 2-4.

"I told the kids to forget about the mystique (of A-B), to forget about what division they're in, and forget about the fact that we haven't beaten them. All that matters are the 48 minutes that we've been given," Nofsinger said. "That's obviously a top-notch program. They're well coached, and they've got great kids going on to play for good schools, but I'll take my group and put them up against anybody, anytime. 

2015 CMass Lacrosse District Finals Preview

Grafton will be looking for revenge, and a district title, against Mt. Greylock Saturday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

After a thrilling semifinal round, only two Central Mass teams remain alive in the MIAA lacrosse tournament.

I won't waste any more time on intros, let's get right into what it will take for Algonquin and Grafton to win district championships.

Postgame Blog: Algonquin Slips Past Shrewsbury in Overtime… Again

Algonquin sophomore attack Zach Skowronek looks for room against Shrewsbury senior pole Tim Hally.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was another game between old rivals Algonquin and Shrewsbury with league title and tournament ramifications, so naturally the Tomahawks and Colonials played another classic.

The Mid-Wach A rivals played a 5-4 thriller earlier this season that ended when Algonquin senior Alex Sabel threw home the OT winner, but this time Sabel would settle for only the game winning assist. His dodge right and pass back to center set up classmate Paul Luongo's golden goal, and gave the T-Hawks sole possession of first place in the league.

Here is your reminder that this blog is just my rambling thoughts on yesterday's game. If you'd like a full recap, with some pictures I grabbed before my camera decided to call it quits, head on over to the new and improved BostonLaxNet to check it out.

Anyways, onward to the blog.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 5/4/15

Algonquin sophomore Zach Skowronek scored the game-winner for the T-Hawks against EMass rival Hingham last week.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Another week and another set of Central Mass Lacrosse Power Rankings are now in the books.

This week a new school makes its first ever appearance in our Top-5, and a couple of Mid-Wach A squads take a tumble after rough stretches. All teams are hitting the home stretch of the regular season as they fight for tournament position, so let's not waste any more time and get to our brand new rankings.

CMass Lax Highlights: Algonquin Edges Westboro

Algonquin goalie Colton King stood on his head Thursday in Westboro.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Thanks to a hat trick from Mike Martens, a late goal from Alex Sabel and a monster day in net from Colton King, Algonquin overcame a slow start to eek out a win in Westboro Thursday afternoon.

The host Rangers came out hitting, and star middie Jake Foster came out firing, but in the end it wasn't quite enough to top the gritty T-Hawks.

Check out the highlights below.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 4/19/15

Algonquin senior Alex Sabel (22) scored an overtime game-winner against rival Shrewsbury last week.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Welcome to a special holiday edition of our Central Mass Lacrosse Power Rankings. Due to the fact that tomorrow is a Marathon Monday, and that I will be attending a game between two of the best teams in the region (more on that later), I felt it would be best to release these rankings a half-day early.

Without further ado, here are this week's Power Rankings, along with some notes about some of the big games this week.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 4/6/15

Led by junior goalie Cadrin Msumba, Grafton scored a huge win over Algonquin Saturday, holding the T-Hawks scoreless in the second half.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Lacrosse season is finally underway in Central Massachusetts and, despite several game cancellations due to snow, some big games have already been played.

If you want to check out all of my CMass Lax previews, click here to view them in our SuitePreps section, and keep reading below for our first Power Rankings of 2015.

2015 Central Mass Lax Previews: Algonquin Tomahawks

Seniors Stu Bleck (3) and Paul Nardone (5) will lead what could be a suffocating Tomahawk defense.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Over the next few days I will be unveiling season previews of the top high school lacrosse programs in Central Massachusetts, leading up to the season opening in early April on what we can only hope will be snow-free fields.

You can access past previews here in our SuitePreps section, and we continue our look around the region with perennial power Algonquin. The T-Hawks captured Central Mass titles in 2011 and 2012, appearing in the state title game in the latter season, and again contended for a district title in 2013. After "only" making the second round of the Division 2 Central/West playoffs last year, Gonk appears ready to break out with a talented, and now, experienced team.