VIDEO CLIPS: Grafton tops Nipmuc for Fourth Consecutive Sectional Title

Videos by Matt Siegel (@SportVideoMA)

Marlborough, Mass. - The Grafton Indians held on for an 8-6 victory over Mid-Mass rival Nipmuc Thursday night, winning their fourth consecutive Division 3 Central/West title in the process.

Our Matt Siegel was there to capture a few video clips of the big win. Continue below for all the highlights.

Grafton Wins Third Straight Boys Lax Sectional Title

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

DUDLEY, Mass - The Nipmuc Warriors faced off against the Grafton Indians in the Division 3 Central/West final at Shepherd Hill Regional High on a fine evening in June. Nipmuc had a lot to prove and started out hot. At the end of the day however, Grafton was able to overpower the Warriors and hand them a 14-5 defeat.

Postgame Blog: Nipmuc Storms into D3 C/W Finals with Win over Mt. Greylock

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

MILFORD - A trip to the D3 Central/West championship on the line. Two great teams. Only one advances.

On a pristine night in June, the Mt. Greylock Mounties trekked out to Milford, MA to play against the Nipmuc Warriors. Though it was close a few times, Nipmuc left little doubt. A 15-7 final score has the Warriors set to meet the rival Grafton Indians in the sectional finals.

Nipmuc Lacrosse Pulls Away From Worcester

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

UPTON - Worcester's last ditch effort to make playoffs was stuffed by a strong Nipmuc Regional team. After opening a two-goal lead in the first, Worcester allowed six consecutive goals to the Warriors over the next two quarters, scoring only twice the rest of the game. Nipmuc in turn, would pile on 7 goals in the fourth period to win going away, 13-4.

Postgame Blog: Hot Start, Solid Finish Carry Grafton Past Nipmuc

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Grafton opened Tuesday's game at league rival Nipmuc like a team looking for redemption.

After a double-overtime loss to the Warriors earlier this season, Grafton came out with great energy, building a 7-0 lead over the first quarter-plus, en route to a 13-8 victory that handed Nipmuc its first loss of the season.

Grafton (12-2, 8-1 Mid-Mass.) also outscored Nipmuc (9-1, 5-1 Mid-Mass.) 3-1 in the fourth quarter, to stave off a would-be comeback by the Warriors, who went on a 10-3 run in the middle of the game. Each team showed toughness, both mental and physical, in a rough and tumble game where hits were many and flags were, perhaps, too few. But, in the end, it was Grafton who started faster and ended stronger.

"I honestly thought we played almost flawless in the first half," Grafton coach Alan Rotatori said. "To be honest, they didn't come out very strong. They were a little bit flat… But we knew that wasn't going to hold up for the whole game."

"We gave them the first quarter, dug ourselves into a six-goal hole, and (Grafton) is a tough team to dig out of that against," Nipmuc coach Eric Brockett said. "I thought we did a nice job after that. We were back in it going into the fourth quarter, but then we just fell apart in the fourth. We were clawing our way back, but it was too little, too late."

Here are a few other takeaways-

PHOTO GALLERY: Grafton Lacrosse vs Nipmuc

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

In a battle atop Mid-Mass., and in positioning for the Division 3 Central/West tournament, Grafton defeated Nipmuc 13-8, avenging an early-season loss to the Warriors. We'll have a full postgame blog up later tonight, but for now, check out the images of the Indians and the Warriors.

Also note that you can click any image to enlarge, and launch a slideshow.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 5

Nipmuc is the last remaining unbeaten in Central Mass after a wild week.  Photo courtesy of @NipmucHSLax

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Just when you think you've got the region figured out… Wow, did last week give us a lot to think about, and there was a great deal of movement in our rankings as a result.

Let's not waste any time. Continue below for this week's Top 10.

RADIO: Nipmuc Lacrosse, Baseball with Tom Flanagan & ESPN Layoffs

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

We were all over the place this week on "The Local Sports Lunchbox" on WPKZ. First, Nipmuc lacrosse stars Brandon Lefebvre, Ryan Richards and Pat Donelan joined me to discuss their early success, and the potential for a Mid-Mass. title.

Then, the Telegram & Gazette's Tom Flanagan called in to break down the Central Mass baseball scene, and I close the show with my thoughts on ESPN's recent brand-wide layoffs (spoiler, ESPN is doing it wrong).

For all that, and more, listen in below.

Postgame Blog: Worcester Bounces Back Against Nipmuc

Fortune favored the physical Tuesday, as Worcester's C.J. Gallagher (25) and Luke Hanlon (9) combined for 24 ground balls (12 each) against Nipmuc. WooLax dominated when the ball was on the ground, collecting 45 GBs on a slippery day when possession was hard to maintain.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Just four days after fading in the second half against Nipmuc, Worcester returned the favor against the Warriors with a 7-6 victory at home Tuesday.

With the game tied at four late in the third, Worcester (5-2, 3-1 Mid-Mass) drew a foul for a slash, then another foul for arguing with the officials. Nipmuc (4-4, 3-2 Mid-Mass) took advantage, as Patrick Donland put the Warriors up 5-4 (Note, both teams are nicknamed the Warriors, so I'm going to use "Warriors" to refer to Nipmuc, and "WooLax" to refer to Worcester. Thanks for bearing with me).

But Worcester dug itself out of that whole when James Goggins wrapped around nearly the entirety of his team's offensive zone to score an elongated wrap around goal while WooLax was still two men down. The teams went to the fourth knotted at five, and Worcester began to take control.