2018 Mid-Mass Lacrosse League All-Stars

Senior goalie Dan Hollis is just one of many Hopedale stars selected to this season's Mid-Mass All-Star team.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The 2018 regular season is nearly in the books, and the Mid-Mass Lacrosse League has released its All-Star team following a banner year for the league.

League champion Grafton will look to get back to the Division 3 state championship game for a fourth consecutive year, and the Indians will be joined by fellow Mid-Mass squads Nipmuc, Hopedale and Tantasqua in the postseason.



If your league has released its All-Star team, feel free to pass that along to me at my Twitter handle above, or email it over to jparello86@gmail.com.

Continue below for the complete Mid-Mass All-Star team!

Video Preview: WooLax in the Worcester Sun

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

I'm thrilled to announce this morning that my first story in the Worcester Sun is a profile of Worcester's combined lacrosse program.

For those of you who aren't familiar, the Worcester Sun is a new subscription-based local site with some of the best long-form and investigative journalism around.

Obviously, I'm going to say nice things about them, but for two bucks a week, give them a try and check out all the local reporting, editorials, cartoons and history from the newest addition to the Worcester media scene.

For a preview of my WooLax story in today's Sun, check out the video 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.

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!

CMass Football Preview: The 2014 St. Peter-Marian Guardians

SPM junior quarterback Seamus Leary will lead a re-tooled Guardian attack.

By Mike Uva (@mike_uva)

The St. Peter Marian Guardians have unfinished business heading into the 2014 season after finishing 8-3 a year ago, with two of those games decided by a point a piece.

Despite graduating a plethora of seniors, SPM players echoed the same message that the expectations this season are higher than they’ve ever been. Here’s a look what to expect from the Guardians in 2014.

CMass Football Preview: The 2014 Doherty Highlanders

Star senior guard Sean Moran will lead one of the region's best offensive lines, and could start at middle linebacker as well.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

The Doherty Highlanders were as good a story as there was in the Commonwealth last year, capturing the inaugural Division 4 Massachusetts state football championship.

The run of those Highlanders ended a 33-year playoff and Super Bowl drought for the program, and established Doherty as a name that merits consideration statewide.

But, as you might expect, that special squad was led by a special group of seniors who have all since graduated, with many taking their games to the next level. Star receiver/safety Isaac Yiadom is now playing defense in Chestnut Hill as an up-and-coming defensive back for Boston College, while receiver Alfred Adarkwah is hoping to earn his keep as a red-zone threat at UMass. Quarterback Luke Brennan is now pitching for Franklin Pierce, and numerous other key players are lost to graduation as well, including defensive back/receiver Shawn Jackson, linebacker Pete Franco and two-way lineman Matt Smalls.

But the cupboard is far from bare on Highland Street in Worcester. Doherty returns five starters on both sides of the ball, and the spots with little experience are loaded with athleticism. Here's what to expect foam the 2014 Highlanders.

Video Preview: 2014 Doherty Football

Doherty running back Jahkari Carpenter

 By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

I will have a full write up on the 2014 Doherty Highlanders, and their quest to defend their Division 4 state championship, tomorrow. In the mean time, check out this quick video preview I produced with new ESPN Boston correspondent Mike Uva.

Doherty has a ton to replace, but the talent, hunger and leadership all appear to be there.

Click below to watch our video preview.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 5/5/14

St. John's junior Jared Ward exploded for 5 goals and 2 assists against Xaverian.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Most teams in Central Mass have hit the meat of their schedules, and the cream is rising to the top.

Perhaps no CMass team in recent memory has started a season as well as this year's St. John's club. The Pioneers completed a fantastic week with a 12-3 thrashing of reigning Division 1 state champion Xaverian. Earlier in the week, St. John's asserted its dominance in Central Mass with a 9-0 win over Shrewsbury, and defeated Eastern Mass rival St. John's Prep.

It was a coming out week of sorts for attackman Jared Ward. The junior, who spent last season on the St. John's JV, pumped in nine goals and dished out five assists in the three aforementioned St. John's victories. Ward's emergence, along with breakout performances from senior Steve Kerr in net and sophomore Andrew Cox in the midfield, have proven that the Pioneers present far more problems than just All American senior Drew Smiley.

It seems to be St. John;s and everybody else in Central Mass right now, but check out our Power Rankings to see where the region's other powers land.

CMass Lax Power Rankings: 4/28/14

St. John's turned Shrewsbury away from the cage repeatedly Sunday.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

With a dominating win Sunday, St. John's firmly established itself as the team to beat in Central Massachusetts.

The Pioneers played a nearly flawless game, blowing out rival Shrewsbury 9-0, but was it enough to send the Colonials tumbling down our Power Rankings? Find out after the jump.

Postgame Blog and Video: Doherty Edges Burncoat on Thanksgiving

Doherty QB Luke Brennan won the game's MVP after a pair of touchdown runs.

By Joe Parello  @HerewegoJoe

Doherty rolled out to an 18-0 lead, but Burncoat made things interesting, and forced the Highlanders to reinsert their starters in a unique Thanksgiving Day match up.

What made things unique for both squads was the fact that this game, ultimately, meant nothing to Doherty. The Highlanders won Division 4 Central, then defeated Western Mass champion Wahconah last week to earn a spot in the Division 4 Super Bowl on December 7th. Doherty will face Eastern Mass champion Dennis-Yarmouth at 11 am at Gillette Stadium that day.