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.

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.