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.

Central Mass Lacrosse All-Stars 2018

By SuiteSports Staff

Another Central Mass lacrosse season is in the books, and that means it's time for our annual all-star team.

Since editor Joe Parello was unable to get out to games like he had in years past, this season's team was nominated by his group of young writers, with the opinions of several local coaches, players, and fans, along with a review of Hudl film used to make the final distinctions.

If you think he was waaaaay off, feel free to let him know on Twitter, at @HerewegoJoe.

Now, without further ado, here are our 2018 Central Mass Lacrosse All-Stars. Be on the lookout for our yearly Award Winners at the end of the week!

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.

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.

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.

RECAP & PHOTOS: Westfield Hangs on Against Algonquin

Story and Photos by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Ed. Note- Continue below for even more photos of the Bombers and T-Hawks. Note that you can click any image to enlarge.

Northboro, Mass. - The Westfield Bombers visited the Algonquin Tomahawks Thursday afternoon and came away with an 11-9 win, led by a ferocious defensive effort.

Westfield got off to a hot start, and did not trail for the entire game.

RECAP & PHOTOS: Nashoba edges Shepherd Hill for First Playoff Win Since 2011

By Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Ed. Note- Continue below for even more photos for the Chieftains and Rams. Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow. 

Bolton, Mass. - The host Nashoba Chieftains started their 2018 playoffs with a bang Tuesday night, defeating the Shepherd Hill Rams 13-7 for the program’s first tournament win since 2011.

In the first quarter, it took senior stand-out Bryce Chaput, who had 63 goals in the regular season, only 26 seconds to score the opening goal for the Chieftains. His goal was countered, however, by goals from Shepherd Hill’s Anthony Detarando and Tristan Pietz.

It was all Nashoba after that, as sophomore middie Sam Vanasse scored to tie the game, and then junior attackman Rory Boots nipped the top corner as the clock expired. After a quarter, the Chieftains led 3-2.

RECAP & PHOTOS: Shrewsbury Holds off Tantasqua to Advance in D2 Central/West

Photos and Story by Ryan Morgera (@RyanMor_ASSCO)

Ed. Note- Continue to the bottom of this story for even more actions shots from Shrewsbury and Tantasqua's playoff clash. Also note that you can click any image in this story to enlarge, and launch a slideshow.

Worcester, Mass. - The Shrewsbury Colonials beat the Tantasqua Warriors, 11-7, Tuesday night at Assumption College in what was a great taste of what Central Mass playoff lacrosse has to offer.

Tantasqua’s Tom Muir came into the game with 46 goals and 24 assists on the year, and his impact would be seen early as he started the scoring with back-to-back goals to put the Warriors up 2-0. Shrewsbury’s Mason Kohn then matched him with back-to back goals to tie the game up. The score at the end of the first quarter was 2-2.

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!

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!

St. John's (Shrewsbury) rolls Past Minnechaug on Senior Day

By Joe Fantozzi (@joe_fantozzi35)

Worcester, Mass. - The St. John’s (Shrewsbury) Pioneers handled the Minnechaug Falcons, 13-5, Tuesday at Assumption College.  The Pioneers overcame not only the Falcons, but also the heat for a memorable senior day win. 

“The heat was a challenge all day,” St. John's defensemen Joe Franzoso said. “We had to focus on winning, and playing the best defense we could to help the team win.”

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 nips Algonquin in OT

By Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Northborough, Mass. - It was a back-and-forth battle between the Algonquin Tomahawks and the Concord-Carlisle Patriots on Friday evening, and the two teams needed more than four quarters to settle on a winner.

But, less than 30 seconds into overtime, Jack Bowen netted the game-winner to lift the visiting Patriots past the Tomahawks 11-10.

RECAP & PHOTOS: St. John's (Shrewsbury) Pulls Away from Grafton

Story by Andrew Bowman (@andrew_bowman5)

Photos by Ryan Bowman (@_ryanbowman_)

Ed. Note- Scroll down for a full photo gallery from the game, and note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Grafton, Mass. - Grafton High School hosted one of the best lacrosse rivalries in Central Mass, with the Indians welcoming regional power St. John's (Shrewsbury).

It would be the visiting Pioneers who would emerge victorious, defeating the Indians 10-4.

RECAP & PHOTOS: Shrewsbury Keeps Rolling, downs Rival Algonquin

Story and Photos by Ryan Morgera (@RyanMor_ASSCO)

Ed. Note- Continue below for a full gallery from today's big rivalry game. Click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Shrewsbury, Mass. - There's no better time to play your best lacrosse than when the tournament is near, and Shrewsbury seems to be peaking at just the right time. The Colonials continued their late season roll Monday, defeating Mid-Wach A rival Algonquin 13-7 for the fifth straight win as we enter the final full week of the regular season.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Wins a Thriller Against Wakefield

By Joe Fantozzi (@joe_fantozzi35)

Shrewsbury, Mass. - Host St. John's (Shrewsbury) won a chippy affair against visiting Wakefield Monday, overcoming an early deficit to steal the game in the final 35 seconds and prevail 8-7.

"We just have to show up to the games on the schedule," senior Ben Scharf said. "Once we got comfortable out there, we started to click."

Central Mass Lax Playoff Race Update: 5/21/18

Thanks in large part to Mason Kohn's dominance at the faceoff-X, Shrewsbury is playing its best lacrosse as the tournament nears. Photo by Sydney LaQue.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Oh, hey guys!

I know, I know, it's been too long. Since I've gotten a new job and started the process of getting my teaching license, I just haven't had the time to get out on the road and do my usual Central Mass lacrosse thing.

Quite frankly, it's a bummer.

But, all is not lost. Some of our great young writers have provided outstanding CMass lax content this season and, with help from them and a few other people I trust across the region, we are still planning on doing our annual CMass Lax All-Star Team.

With that update out of the way, let's get to the matter at hand: Tournament qualification.

We're hitting crunch time for a bunch of teams hoping to make the tournament, meaning these next two weeks will be make or break for a number of programs across the region.

Let's take a look at who's in, who's out, and who still has work to do.

RADIO: Central Mass Lacrosse on the Scholastic Sports Zone

Our Joe Parello called into The Scholastic Sports Zone on WPKZ Radio to give his thoughts the biggest storylines in Central Mass lacrosse, and discuss the growth of the game in general.

The show also features the incomparable Howie Kahn, the legendary voice of Doyle Field, Dick Tucker, and members of the Leominster lacrosse team. Continue below to listen in!