Laforge Lifts Tyngsboro Lax Past Hopedale in Triple-Overtime

By Mike Abelson (@ABELS0N)

TYNGSBORO - You only play your first state tournament game once, and the Hopedale Blue Raiders left one whale of a first impression.

The fourth-year program took Tyngsboro’s best shot, and made two big comebacks, before the Tigers found the shot they needed to pull off a wild 11-10 triple-overtime win under a baking hot Sun.

The Blue Raiders trailed 6-3 at halftime and 10-8 with three minutes left in the game, but battled back both times during this thrilling Division 3 Central/East quarterfinal.

Tantasqua Edges Hopedale in Back-to-Back Games

Left: Tantasqua junior midfielder Tom Muir (photo by John Pedace). Right: Hopedale junior goalie Dan Hollis (photo by Joe Parello).

By SuiteSports Staff

Ed. Note- This story is a collection of observations and stats provided by parents and coaches from both Tantasqua and Hopedale.

Thanks to some early season rain-outs, teams across the region are packing as many games into May as they possibly can. Tantasqua and Hopedale lacrosse were no different, as the Mid-Mass. foes had to face each other twice in a span of three days, leading to one absolute classic, and another game where the young Blue Raiders ran out of gas.

In the end, Tantasqua won at Hopedale 12-11 on Tuesday, then won on their home field against the Blue Raiders 9-5 on Thursday.

Here are a few notes from both of the Tantasqua (10-4, 7-3 Mid-Mass.) vs Hopedale (11-3, 4-3 Mid-Mass.) games this week.

RADIO: Hopedale Lacrosse, Sean Sweeney, Adam Jones at Fenway, and Star Wars

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We had a great many things to discuss on this week's episode of "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ. First, our buddy Sean Sweeney from the Sentinel & Enterprise called in to discuss the local baseball scene, and then we were joined by the stars of Hopedale lacrosse. The Blue Raiders are just one win away from the program's first ever tournament berth, as they prepare to play Blackstone Valley Tech.

Of course, I also had to pepper everyone with inane Star Wars questions since it is May 4th (May the Fourth Be With You!), and go off on a tangent about Adam Jones and the alleged racial slurs hurled at him earlier this week at Fenway Park. That's the end of the show, so if you don't want any non-high school stuff, just listen until the final few minutes.

Anyways, continue below for all that, and more, on this week's show.

Postgame Blog: Grafton Too Much for Up-and-coming Hopedale

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

GRAFTON - Hopedale came into Thursday's clash with Mid-Mass. power Grafton undefeated, but the host Indians proved too much for the young program, running away with a 13-5 victory.

Led by four goals by junior Steve Rotatori, Grafton built an early 7-0 advantage, and never looked back. Grafton (9-2, 5-1 Mid-Mass.), was simply too much, controlling possession, and creating shots at will early on, whether it was through the pinpoint passing of guys like Anthony D'Angelo, or the dodging of players like Jimmy Donadio and Brendan Coates.

Basically, Grafton was playing loose and still riding high off of Tuesday's come-from-behind win over regional favorite St. John's.

PHOTO GALLERY: Grafton vs Hopedale Lacrosse

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Grafton handed upstart Hopedale its first loss of the season Tuesday, topping the Blue Raiders by a final score of 13-5 at Grafton High School in a critical Mid-Mass. clash.

I'll have a postgame blog up later tonight, but for now, enjoy the sights of the game. Note that you can click any image to enlarge, and launch a slideshow.