Central Mass Lacrosse Award Winners 2018

Groton-Dunstable senior middie Liam McDonough did a little bit of everything for the Crusaders this year.   Photo by Abby Hoey.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Earlier this week we brought you our annual Central Mass Lacrosse All-Star team, and now we close the book on the 2018 season with our annual Award Winners.

Continue below to see who took home each award this year.

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.

Tobin and Geiger push Reading Past Concord-Carlisle for D2 Boys' Lax Title

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

BOSTON -There isn’t a team in the Commonwealth more comfortable being down than the Reading boys' lacrosse team.

The Rockets made it a habit to dig a hole this tournament, only to climb out and claim victory by the end of the game.

In the program’s first ever state title game it was no different. The Rockets were down three midway through the second quarter, before the tandem of Jack Geiger and Michael Tobin took over.

The Rockets scored 10 of the final 13 goals to defeat Concord-Carlisle 13-9 and claim the Division 2 state title at Nickerson Field.

“This is why you stay home, why you play for your town,” Tobin said. “For this. Everything pays off. When everyone’s sleeping you’re down at the turf working on your game. This is why you play for your town. All of this.”

BC High Runs away from Acton-Boxboro for D1 Boys' Lax Crown

SuiteSports Staff

BOSTON - The BC High boys' lacrosse team has been a cut above the competition throughout the postseason.

The Eagles averaged 16.9 goals per game while blazing through a loaded Division 1 South bracket and, on Saturday, completed their meteoric run with a 16-3 thrashing of North champion Acton-Boxborough in the D1 state title game at Nickerson Field.

BC High (20-3) wins its first boys' lacrosse state championship, after falling to Lincoln-Sudbury in consecutive state finals.

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.

Cohasset Routs Austin Prep for Spot in D3 State Lax Final

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Peabody, Mass. - It was a thorough domination by the Cohasset boys lacrosse team, as the Skippers rolled past Austin Prep, 18-5, in the Eastern Massachusetts Division III lacrosse semifinal at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Skippers surrendered the first two goals of the game before rattling off seven in a row and cruising the rest of the way.

Reading Rallies for D2 North Title vs Rival Winchester

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Woburn, Mass. - It was as good a game as you’d expect between Middlesex League rivals Reading and Winchester.

A back-and-forth game saw the Rockets give up five goals in a 3:37 span in the first quarter, but chipping away and eventually notching a 10-7 win over the Sachems for the Division 2 North crown.

Austin Prep tops Ipswich for First Ever Sectional Crown

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Woburn, Mass. -- It was a night for history at Woburn High, as the Austin Prep boys lacrosse team rolled to its first ever sectional crown, knocking off defending state champion Ipswich 13-7 to win the Division 3 North title.

The Cougars jumped the Tigers from the start, racing out to a 4-0 lead and never looking back.

Austin Prep won thanks to its diverse, relentless offense. Five different Cougars scored led by four goals each from freshman Zach Barden and sophomore Michael Chabra. Chabra also had a pair of assists.

PHOTO GALLERY: St. John's (Shrewsbury) rolls past Westfield into D2 C/W Final

Click any image to enlarge.

Photos by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Worcester, Mass. -The St. John's (Shrewsbury) Pioneers are headed to the Division 2 Central/West title game after defeating the Westfield Bombers, 11-8, Tuesday at Assumption College.

Our Andrew Bowman was there to capture these fantastic images of the Pioneers' big win.

Continue for photos -

2018 Mid-Wach Lacrosse All-Stars Announced

Both Nashoba pole Aidan Gross and Shepherd Hill attack Tristan Pietz were named first team All-Stars in Mid-Wach B.  Photo by Andrew Bowman.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Coming on the heels of the Mid-Mass All-Stars, and the Central Mass Lacrosse All-Americans, the Midland Wachusett League has released its lacrosse All-Star teams.

For those who do not know, the Mid-Wach is divided into three tiers- Mid-Wach A, Mid-Wach B and Mid-Wach C, with each tier releasing an All-Star team. You can check out each of those teams below.

Your 2018 Central Mass Lacrosse Tournament Preview

Mid-Wach A mainstays Shrewsbury and Algonquin each enter the MIAA tournament with a ton of momentum and something to prove.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It's playoff time in the Heart of the Commonwealth, as high school lacrosse teams across the region gear up for the state tournament.

This year, 20 CMass lax squads will compete in four different sections across two divisions, and we've got you covered with a look at each of those brackets. Here we go!

Central Mass Lax Playoff Race Update: 5/29/18

Grafton and St. John's are each rounding into tournament form, but which teams still have work to do?   Photo by Ryan Bowman.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We enter the final week of lacrosse in Central Mass with a pair of teams still looking to play their way into the state tournament.

Let's not waste any time with intros. Here's who's in, who's out, and who still has work to do.

Massachusetts Talent Propels Merrimack to NCAA D2 Lax Title Game

After a decorated career at Longmeadow, which included an undefeated D2 state championship run, long pole Dan Cotnoir hopes to bring an NCAA D2 national championship to Merrimack. But the former Lancer is just one of many Massachusetts products hoping to lead the Warriors to victory in their home state.  Photo courtesy of Merrimack Athletics.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - Sports are cruel.

Last year, the Merrimack men’s lacrosse team advanced to its first NCAA Division II title game, and had the lucky draw of playing in the Commonwealth at Gillette Stadium.

The Warriors let a lead slip away late and lost to Limestone.

This year, though, the Warriors are back in the title game, and return to Foxboro better than ever with a team getting contributions up and down the lineup from Bay State natives. Merrimack's second consecutive title game in Massachusetts will take place Sunday at 4 pm against No. 6 St. Leo.

Thanks to the wealth of local talent, coach Mike Morgan believes his group is capable of leaving Gillette Stadium victorious this season.

Concord-Carlisle's Brozowski Hopes to Capture Another NCAA Lax Title With Maryland

Concord-Carlisle alum Nick Brozowski will again take the field for Maryland in the NCAA Lacrosse Final Four at Gillette Stadium, and he's dreaming of another national title.  Photo courtesy of Maryland Athletics.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Foxborough, Mass. - Last year Nick Brozowski had the ball in his stick as the clock ran out on the NCAA Division 1 Lacrosse national championship game.

The Concord native threw his stick, gloves, and helmet into the air at Gillette Stadium as he, and the Maryland lacrosse team, celebrated the program's first national title in 42 years.

Now a redshirt junior, Brozowski and the Terps are back in the Final Four in Foxboro, looking to cement their spot in Terrapin lore.

PHOTO GALLERY: Xaverian Lax Downs St. John's (Shrewsbury)

Photos by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Shrewsbury, Mass. - Xaverian hit the road and defeated Central Mass power St. John's (Shrewsbury) 9-6 Wednesday in a battle of two of the state's best Catholic School lacrosse programs.

Our Andrew Bowman was there with his camera to capture these sweet shots for you.

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

RECAP AND PHOTOS: Shrewsbury gets Possessive against Grafton

Mason Kohn controlled possession for Shrewsbury all day, winning 18 of 19 faceoffs against Grafton.

Story by Ryan Morgera (@RyanMor_ASSCO)

Photos by Sydney LaQue (@SydneyLaque)

Ed. Note: Continue below for a photo gallery from the Colonials' big win over the Indians. Click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Mason Kohn has controlled the faceoff X for the Shrewsbury Colonials all season, and Wednesday was no different, as Kohn helped the Colonials push past Grafton, 13-6, with his dominant performance at the X.

Kohn won 18-19 faceoffs, which helped the Colonials keep possession for a very high percentage of the game. He started off the game with a faceoff win, which led to a long possession for Shrewsbury and eventual Alex Cashman goal. Cole Russo followed that up with one of his own to make the score 2-0.

“Mason on the faceoff draws is huge” said Shrewsbury senior captain Chris Campbell. “It’s make it take it for us, we know if there’s a man down and they score we will get the ball back to try and get another goal. The kid’s a stud, he’s a tremendous leader, and he’s definitely going to play at the next level somewhere. We’re really lucky to have him."

Shrewsbury Head Coach Nate Skermont feels that Kohn “is a game changer at X”. “We respect the heck out of Grafton and what their program has accomplished so we know that being able to get more possessions than them would put us in a position to be successful.”

Grafton’s Jake McCue followed with a nifty goal of his own to get within one of the Colonials, but it wasn’t long until Chris Campbell caused a turnover for the Colonials, led a fast break, then fed to Kohn for his first goal of the day. Score 3-1 Colonials at the end of the first.

Grafton started the scoring in the second when Johnny Malloy found the back of the net off a rip from the top of the box. Campbell was flagged on the play, so Grafton was on man up, but just seconds into the penalty, Shrewsbury drew a penalty and then killed the clock, and they were now on a man up.

Senior Kyle Spagnuolo (1G, 2A) took advantage for the Colonials as he found the back of the cage, followed by Cashman with his second, and two straight goals from Alec Buduo (2G 4A). This pushed the score to 7-2 Colonials.

Steve Rotatori added his first to bring the score to 7-3 Colonials. Mason Kohn added his second, and then Rotatori scored his second as time expired in the second quarter to make the score at the half 8-4 Shrewsbury.

The Colonials outscored Grafton 5-2 in the second half, with goals coming from Russo (3G, 2A), Jackson Lane (1G), Kohn (3G, 1A, and Cashman (3G).

Offensively, the Colonials were able to get on the board early and never turn back.

Kohn said “we scored a couple quick goals early”, and was “just excited to be able to put up 13 (goals) and get a big win today.”

Defensively, the Colonials held Grafton to just 15 shots today. Shrewsbury goalie Mike Fornal had 8 saves in today’s game, which gave the Colonials defense a boost when they needed it.

Senior Jack Tepper said the Colonials “stayed physical and communicated on the slides to keep them from shooting.” He also added that “also when we saw a ground ball we all went on the attack to get the ball back to our offense.” Senior Nick Perron and Junior Sean Vroman helped Tepper on the back end today, which held Grafton to just 7 goals, who’s only losses on the season came when scoring 7 or fewer goals.

Coach Skermont thought that the Colonials “played solid 6 on 6 defense and our footwork and communication was much better than it has been recently.” He also felt the Colonials “clears were nicely executed and that’s attributed to a very spirited practice yesterday.”

Shrewsbury (5-6) takes on Tantasqua tomorrow at 4PM at Tantasqua Regional High School.

Grafton (6-4) plays Nipmuc next Tuesday at 4PM at Nipmuc Regional High School.

PHOTOS

Algonquin Dominates Wachusett in Mid-Wach A

 By Joe Fantozzi (@joe_fantozzi35)

Holden, Mass. - The Algonquin Tomahawks (7-2) went on the road and destroyed the Wachusett Mountaineers (2-6), 15-2. In a contest that was never really contested, Algonquin took charge of this Mid-Wach A battle from the opening face-off. 

Algonquin senior captains Will Levine and Tommy Ackil combined for three first quarter goals, as the T-Hawks took a 5-0 lead into the first intermission. 

BC High Lax Holds off St. John's (Shrewsbury)

By Joe Fantozzi (@joe_fantozzi35)

Shrewsbury, Mass. - The Eagles of BC High School defeated the Saint John’s Pioneers 10-6 in lacrosse on Pioneer field Tuesday afternoon.

This game resulted in the eighth win of the season for the Eagles, while handing the Pioneers their third loss of the year.  Both teams showed fantastic grit and skill throughout the game. In the first, Chi Chi Price (3G) broke the ice for the Eagles, netting two contested and close shots on the goal. UNC commit and BC High School senior defenseman Will Bowen starred on the other end, strongly contesting SJ attacker Jack Donahue, not allowing the senior captain to get into rhythm offensively. 

North Andover Lax Keeps Rolling against Billerica

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

North Andover, Mass. - The North Andover Scarlet Knights continued tearing through their opponents, rolling past Merrimack Valley Conference rival Billerica 11-7 at Walsh Stadium.

The Knights never trailed and led by as many as eight. North Andover raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Scarlet Knights led 7-2 at halftime and 10-3 after three quarters.

The win kept the Knights undefeated at 8-0. During its dominant start, North Andover has outscored its opponents 118-34 so far this season.

Hingham ends Lincoln-Sudbury's MA Win Streak; North Andover tops Winchester in Coaches Cup Semis

Hingham became the first Massachusetts team to beat powerful Lincoln-Sudbury in over 1,400 days.

By Michael Abelson (@ABELS0N)

Andover, Mass. - By Michael Abelson

Before yesterday, the Lincoln-Sudbury boys' lacrosse team hadn’t lost a game to a team from Massachusetts in 1,411 days, a streak that stretched 57 games and three Division 1 state championships.

That streak was snapped Saturday, as the Hingham Harbormen scored the only two goals of the fourth quarter to defeat the Warriors, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Coaches Cup at Andover High School.

It was Hingham’s first win over Lincoln-Sudbury since 2011. The Warriors had won the previous three meetings.