Cohasset tops Dover-Sherborn for D3 Boys' Lax Championship

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

BOSTON - In perhaps the best Division 3 rivalry in Massachusetts lacrosse, Cohasset topped old nemesis Dover-Sherborn, 10-6, at Boston University's Nickerson Field. The win avenges a 2015 state semifinal defeat to D-S, and gives the Skippers their first state title since defeating the Raiders in 2014.

Dover-Sherborn Holds off Grafton for Spot in D3 Final

By Ryan Bowman (@itsryanbowman)

Bolton, Mass. - In the seemingly annual tradition, Grafton and Dover-Sherborn met in the D3 State Tournament for the fourth straight year.

Led by freshman Pierce Gregory’s five goals, the Raiders ultimately prevailed 15-11 and earned the right to take on Cohassett in the Division 3 State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Boston University.

Postgame Blog & Video: Grafton Earns Redemption in 3OT Semifinal Win Against Dover-Sherborn

Grafton's Brendan Coates throws home the game-winner in triple-overtime. Photo by Ryan Bowman

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

CONCORD - I would like to open this article with a disclaimer: I am still relatively new to reporting on high school sports. While I have the utmost respect for both of these teams, it IS worth noting that I did play for Grafton High School for four years. Some players from this game were my teammates.

I just want it to be clear that if I come across as biased tonight, it is in NO way intended to disrespect the achievements of a great Dover-Sherborn team. It is simply that Grafton Lacrosse raised me and I do hold a lot of love for them. That being said, let’s get to it.

In my short 20 years of life I have never witnessed a more enthralling, captivating, riveting, phenomenal sporting event than what I witnessed tonight. The D3 Central/West champion Grafton Indians ventured to Concord-Carlisle to face off against the two-time defending D3 state champions Dover-Sherborn Raiders.

It was a game that neither team would lead by more than one goal, and a game that featured four lead changes and three overtimes. A game where both teams played outstanding lacrosse in all facets. Goalies stood on their heads. Poles forced turnovers. Middies and attackmen found the cage. 60 full minutes of two absolute powerhouses exchanging blow for blow.

At the end of the third overtime, the underdog Indians would finally get the better of the Raiders, who had pummeled them the last two years in the state championship game. On the back of a golden goal from Brendan Coates, Grafton is headed back to BU for a third straight year, but no longer has to worry about the powerhouse Raiders.

Final: 7-6

PHOTO GALLERY: Grafton Lax vs Dover-Sherborn in D3 State Semis

Photos by Ryan Bowman (@_ryanbowman_)

CONCORD - Full story to follow, but first check out these pictures from our Ryan Bowman of Grafton's breakthrough win against defending two-time D3 state champion Dover-Sherborn.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Dover-Sherborn Handles Hopkinton to Clinch Share of TVL Title

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

HOPKINTON, Mass. – The Tri-Valley League has seen unprecedented parity this season, but on Monday afternoon, the top two dogs in the conference reasserted their status.

Dover-Sherborn controlled host Hopkinton from start to finish in an 18-8 victory, while Medfield dominated Westwood, 18-7, later that night. The two teams will share the TVL title for the fourth time over the last six seasons and both are serious contenders to respectively repeat as Division 2 and Division 3 state champions. 

No. 2 Medfield Catches Fire Against Dover-Sherborn in Bruce Lerch Game of the Month

Medfield celebrates a win over rival Dover-Sherborn

By Mike Abelson (@ABELS0N)

MEDFIELD, Mass. -- The lights shut off in the first quarter of Tuesday's meeting between Medfield and Dover-Sherborn. As they returned to full power, Jack Cahill lit up the night.

The Medfield senior exploded for two goals and four assists in the second half to power the Warriors to a convincing 14-8 win over their Tri Valley League rivals in the first ever Bruce Lerch Game of the Month. The highly-anticipated game benefited the Bruce Lerch Scholarship Fund, founded in honor of the late, great local sports reporter, who covered high school lacrosse for the Boston Herald and BostonLax.

Lincoln-Sudbury and Hingham Advance to Coaches Challenge Cup Final

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

NORTH ANDOVER - Lincoln-Sudbury scored the first three goals of the game and never looked back, as it cruised by Dover-Sherborn 15-5 in the semifinals of the Coaches Challenge Cup.

The Warriors scored two goals 13 seconds apart early to set the tone offensively. Lincoln-Sudbury outshot the short-handed Raiders 38-15.

Mahoney Leads Dover-Sherborn Past Wellesley in Coaches Challenge Cup

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

WINCHESTER – Jack Mahoney returned at the perfect time for Dover-Sherborn.

With All-America attack Bailey Laidman recovering from a concussion, Mahoney stepped up in a big way, scoring goals five goals with two assists to carry Dover-Sherborn (6-1) in a 10-4 victory over Wellesley in the first round of the eighth annual Coaches Challenge Cup at Knowltown Stadium.

Your 2017 MIAA Lacrosse Primer: Division 3

Hanover middie Abdullah Nassif will look to push the Indians into the state championship game after coming up just short in 2016.

By Marisa Ingemi (@Marisa_Ingemi), featuring Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We continue our look at each MIAA lacrosse division with our preview of Division 3, where Dover-Sherborn hopes to win a third consecutive state championship. Here's a look at D-S, and several other teams and players you need to keep an eye on across the state in 2017.

Grafton to Face Massive Challenge in D3 State Final

Goalie Cadrin Msumba (22) and poles Tom Nicalek (3) and Youki Azuma clamp down on Ipswich Monday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe) and Bruce Lerch (@blerch27)

Ed. Note- Bruce Lerch of BostonLax.Net and The Boston Herald has been kind enough to provide me with a breakdown of Grafton's opponent, Division 3 mainstay Dover-Sherborn. You can find his analysis right after my look back at Grafton's season.

The Grafton Indians will make their first ever state finals appearance today, and will conclude a long and arduous journey that has seen them battle injuries, a brutal schedule, and some bumps in the road along the way.

Facing one of the toughest schedules in Division 3 Central/West, the Indians scored a huge win over D2 Central power Algonquin in their second game, but the win came at a cost. Star junior attackman Chase Kapuscienski broke his foot, and has been playing on a bad wheel ever since. Grafton has seen the injury bug hit the rest of its team, with senior captain pole Connor Evans go down for an extended period, and at times dealing with as many as seven players out of the lineup simultaneously, five of them starters.