Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: The End of 2017

It's hard to deny the significance of what coach Alan Rotatori (right) and his Grafton Indians have done the last three years, but is Grafton our top team in CMass this season?

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The state championships have come and gone, and another season of Central Mass lacrosse is in the books. It was a year of surprises, memorable runs and, unfortunately, tragedy, with the passing of former Tantasqua coach John Pedace.

While it was a bitter sweet season for many in the region, several teams did make their presence known at the state level, some for the very first time. So, without further ado, here are our final Central Mass Lax Power Rankings of 2017. Be on the lookout for our annual CMass All-Stars and Award Winners later this week.

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.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 7

Grafton junior goalie Matt Nicalek

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Like I said last week, it's too late in the year for lengthy introductions, but this week does bring a new No. 1 team in our Power Rankings, and the league races across Central Mass are starting to stabilize.

Continue below for this week's Top 10.

Postgame Blog: Groton-Dunstable Makes Statement Against Tyngsboro

Groton-Dunstable midfielder Liam McDonough (12) celebrates one of his five goals.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

On a cold, damp morning in Tyngsboro, it was visiting Groton-Dunstable that came out hot, jumping on the host Tigers and running away with a 10-3 win Saturday.

It was a complete team effort from the Crusaders (7-0), as junior middie Liam McDonough dominated the face-off X, and threw home five goals, while junior goalie Nevin Tardif stopped 10 shots behind a stellar defensive performance led by senior Nate Forbes.

Here are a few takeaways from today's game.

McDonough Ready for Prime Time

Though he wasn't known state-wide, lacrosse observers in Central Mass knew all about McDonough, a physical middie who can takeover games both at the X and around the cage. McDonough's five goals came both off his ability to win the draw, and his skill to catch passes in traffic and finish off nice feeds from Michael Tammaro, Jack O'Neill and Mitchell Townsend.

PHOTO GALLERY: Groton-Dunstable Lacrosse vs Tyngsboro

Groton-Dunstable pole Nate Forbes defends Tyngsboro middie Kyle Laforge.

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

I'll have a postgame blog up a little later, but Groton-Dunstable went on the road and topped rival Tyngsboro 10-3 this morning, sending a statement to the rest of the region.

The Crusaders are now 7-0, and may be the most surprisingly dominant team in Central Massachusetts.

Continue below for photos, and note that you can click any image to enlarge it and launch a slideshow.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: Week 2

Tantasqua's senior attack trio of Anthony Law, Ben Beaudry and Mike Frio is off to a hot start.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

As you might expect, there was tremendous movement from Week 1 to Week 2 in our Power Rankings. Only top-ranked St. John's is ranked in the same spot as last week, as a slew of upsets and close calls shook up our Top-10.

Check out this week's rankings below.

Central Mass Lax Power Rankings: The Start of 2017

Grafton is coming off back-to-back district titles and state championship game appearances, but with plenty of talent gone to graduation, the Indians will need to find new stars in 2017.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Ah, it's that time of year.

The weather is going back and forth from beautiful to horrid, and I now get to pretend I know how the Central Mass lacrosse season will go.

This year is especially tricky as, outside of St. John's, it seems like every team is losing multiple star players. But, at the same time, many of the best players in the region are back, and nearly all of them will have to carry even bigger loads in 2017.

I'd love to cop out and wait a few weeks to do my first Power Rankings, but that's way too easy. So, with many teams across the region set to open their schedules today, here are my first Power Rankings of the year, which I'm sure will look silly in a few weeks.

RADIO: Previewing the 2017 Central Mass Lacrosse Season

Jack Donahue (3) and Drew Kozub (6) should give St. John's one of the most explosive attacks in the state.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

I decided to do something a little different this year, and use my radio show on WPKZ to break down the upcoming Central Mass lacrosse season.

Listen in below for a league-by-league breakdown of CMass lax, with key teams and players to watch. Excuse my occasionally terrible name pronunciations, I promise to get better as the year goes on.

Note that the lacrosse preview takes place across the show's first and third segments, with special guest Sean Sweeney of the Sentinel & Enterprise popping in for the second segment to break down the end of winter sports, and preview baseball/softball.

Postgame Blog & Highlights: Littleton Clamps Down on Tyngsboro for Playoff Win

Littleton junior Griffin Shoemaker (3) paced the Tigers with five goals and six ground balls against Tyngsboro.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Littleton and Tyngsboro split their regular season series, and shared the Mid-Wach B crown, so there was obviously a score to be settled in Wednesday's Division 3 Central/East tournament matchup.

In the end, Littleton's (17-2) defense, led by goalie Eric Rauker, played perhaps its best game of the season, clamping down on Tyngsboro's (15-5) explosive offense to win 12-5.

Here are a few of my thoughts from today's game, along with highlights of just a few of Rauker's 12 saves, and a pair of Littleton goals.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: The Beginning of 2016

Marlboro sophomore Evan Doherty looks for room against Tyngsboro last Thursday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Some teams in the region have already played, but most are kicking off this week, so we thought there was no better team to unveil our first Power Rankings of 2016.

Expect a ton of change from week-to-week because, as we've seen in years past, teams always come from out of nowhere to contend, and with the region improving as a whole, things are getting harder and harder to predict. In fact, I've already had to tweak my rankings to account for Marlboro's big win over Tyngsboro last Thursday.

Some might accuse me of overreacting to that one game, but it's the only one I've seen this season, and the Panthers appear to be for real.

Anyways, without further ado, here are your first CMass Lax Power Rankings of 2016.

Postgame Blog and Video: Marlboro Pushes Past Tyngsboro

Marlboro's Devan Raun, Ryan Mechler and Dominic Carter celebrate a third quarter goal.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Ed. Note- This is not a complete game story, only a blog on the game's main points, and a few of my takeaways. Video highlights can be found at the bottom.

The Marlboro Panthers scored a signature win in their home opener against Tyngsboro, riding a 6-0 second half run to top the Tigers 11-8.

Marlboro (1-0), the reigning Mid-Wach C champions, used an emotional second half to outlast Tyngsboro (0-1), the reigning Mid-Wach C champs, but things were played nearly even for the game's first half.

Led by a pair of Matt Butler goals, Tyngsboro took a 5-4 lead into intermission, but wouldn't score again for a quarter and a half, as the Panthers attacked the cage with relentless energy. Sophomore middie Evan Doherty started the run with a cutting goal, and seconds later sophomore attackman Ryan Mechler dropped a dime pass to Dominic Carter, who threw in his third goal of the game.

Sophomore Devan Raun threw home a bomb, followed by a pair of Mechler goals to make it 9-5 at the end of the third.

CMass Lax Preview: The 2016 Tyngsboro Tigers

Tyngsboro junior middie Kyle Laforge.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Much will be expected of this year's Tyngsboro boys lacrosse team, after last year's squad posted an undefeated record in Mid-Wach B play, and made a run to the Division 3 Central/East semifinals.

The Tigers will again have the potential to be special, led by a returning All-American, and one of the best returning goalies in the region. There are questions of depth and experience, but the top-end talent in Tyngsboro takes a back seat to nobody, and the Tigers are confident that plenty of young guys will step up as they attempt to take the next step this season.

Here's a closer look.

CMass Lax Scrimmage Report: Nashoba Hosts Tyngsboro & Tantasqua

Nashoba and Tyngsboro face-off in the first of three scrimmages in Bolton Saturday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Lacrosse season is officially underway across Central Mass, and I had the pleasure of attending my first scrimmages today, as Nashoba played host to a pair of teams with very high hopes for this season: Reigning Mid-Wach B champion Tyngsboro, and reigning Mid-Mass co-champion Tantasqua.

I will have full previews on all three of these teams in the coming days, but first here are my impressions from a dreary and chilly morning in Bolton

2016 Preseason Central Mass Lacrosse All-Stars

Algonquin goalie Colton King

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Normally, I'm no fan of "preseason All-Star" teams. By their very nature, they rely almost entirely on what happened last year, and trying to project the unpredictable growth of players, both physically and mentally.

That being said, I've gotten a great response from players, parents and coaches this off-season, and I feel like I've been able to put together a pretty solid list of some of the fantastic players returning in the region this year.

And the beauty of this list is, if you aren't on it, you've got the whole season to prove me wrong!

2015 Central Mass Lax Recruiting Database

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The 2015 lacrosse season is now in the books here in Central Mass. We've already looked back at our Top-10 teams, and named All-Stars and Award Winners, so the only thing left to do is list where all the top players are headed to play in college.

Please note that this list is (probably) incomplete. I have reached out to players and coaches to find out where as many players are going as possible. However, if I am missing you, or a player you know, simply shoot me an email at jparello86@gmail.com, or Tweet me @HerewegoJoe and I will get them added.

CMass Lax All-Stars and Award Winners 2015

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Another season of lacrosse is in the books here in Central Mass, so now it's time to unveil our All-Stars and Award Winners. This was probably the toughest year to narrow our Watch List down to a single team of standouts, as so many teams and players enjoyed great seasons across the region.

Still, decisions have to be made. So, after consulting with local coaches, players and experts, here is my list of the players that stood above the rest in 2015. Congratulations to all the players, coaches and parents that made it another great year for the game in the region!

CMass Lax Power Rankings: The End of 2015

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was another exciting year for high school lacrosse in the Heart of the Commonwealth, and for the first time in a few years, there really wasn't a consensus top team.

Algonquin won an outright Mid-Wach A crown, claiming the top league in Central Mass, and advanced the farthest in the Division 2 tournament among CMass teams. Still, St. John's and Grafton both beat the T-Hawks, with the latter making a run to the state finals in Division 3.

You could make a legitimate case for all three of those teams to be No. 1, so let's not waste any more time. Here is my end of 2015 Top-10, with a breakdown of my thinking at the bottom.

Central Mass Coaches Name 2015 Lacrosse All Americans

St. John's senior attackman Jared Ward.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Central Mass' 2015 lacrosse All Americans have been named,

Here are the five players that stood above the rest in the eyes of the Central Mass Lacrosse Coaches Association and earned All American honors. Players are listed alphabetically, then with their high school and college choice following. Also listed below are those players that earned Academic All American honors.

2015 CMass Lacrosse District Semifinals Preview

Algonquin middie Mike Martens has been dominant at the faceoff-X and prolific offensively for the T-Hawks this year.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The MIAA lacrosse district semis begin Monday, and there are still four Central Mass squads fighting for championships. Thus far, the tournament has brought us some surprising results, and some old mainstays living up to their reputations.

Let's took a look back at the games already played, and forward to the semifinals.

Ed. Note- The Division 2 and 3 Central/West semis were scheduled for Tuesday, June 9th, but were pushed back to Wednesday due to rain. The new times for the games are as follows:

D2 Central/West
Algonquin at Westfield- 5 pm
St. John's at Longmeadow- 7 pm 
D3 Central/West
Lee at Grafton- 5:30 pm

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 5/25/15

Shrewsbury attackman Joe Buduo looks to score against St. John's pole John DeFlumeri and goalie Hunter Gaither. Buduo, a senior, reached 200 career points in Shrewsbury's season finale against Framingham Sunday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

This whole region is a mess, and that's actually a great thing.

I don't know what else to say. St. John's just beat Algonquin, but Shrewsbury beat St. John's convincingly, while Algonquin beat Shrewsbury twice, but Grafton beat Algonquin, and Tantasqua split a season series with Grafton. Oh yeah, and Westboro beat Shrewsbury, but St. John's topped the Rangers by 10+ goals, and Tyngsboro just keeps on winning.

Yeah, try and figure this all out.

Well, I guess I'll try, but things will really be decided in the tournament. Until then, here is my best shot at ranking the best lacrosse teams in Central Mass.