Every of the sooner two seasons, the MIAA boys lacrosse state championship has come proper right down to a Catholic Convention showdown, with St. John’s Prep defeating rival BC Excessive in every conditions.
Might John Pynchon’s group have visions of a three-peat? Given the number of acquainted faces returning, it’s exhausting to look at a precipitous dropoff for the Eagles, and the St. John’s Prep coach is hopeful that this squad can proceed what’s quickly trending in the direction of a dynastic run. The Eagles (22-1) parted strategies with just some key players, along with Windfall commit Tommy Sarni, nonetheless welcomed once more Jimmy Ayers, Matt Morrow and Jake Vana, to name just some.
“Now we have a variety of returning guys,” talked about Pynchon. “However we have now a ton of latest faces on the defensive finish. We’re actually attempting to steadiness out our excessive expectations with the fact that we’re in 2023, that we’re not our 2022 staff. Simply attempting to remain centered on getting work completed, and getting the children to repeatedly belief that we’re getting higher every day.”
BC Excessive (17-6) might have a tall job having fun with in a Div. 1 space that instantly has develop into even deeper, nonetheless keep a dangerous menace. Anticipate the crew to rely carefully on Georgetown commit James Carroll (18 targets, 16 assists), who emerged as considered one of many state’s most electrifying players. Along with his expertise offensively ultimate 12 months, the now-senior added 119 ground balls to associate with 80 precipitated turnovers.
Xaverian (13-8) seen highly-touted prospect Henry Hasselbeck be part of its lacrosse ranks after a stint at Belmont Hill. Couple that with the return of Brendan Owens, Griffin Prepared, Sebastian Reyes to associate with an enormous junior class, and the Hawks instantly have taken on the kind of a juggernaut.
The normal publics should contend. Hingham beloved a run to the state semifinals sooner than faltering to St. John’s Prep (a 12-8 loss ultimate June 18). The Harbormen will rely carefully on Richmond commit Charlie Packard for offensive firepower, along with fellow senior captain Joe Hennessey.
Different Div. 1 colleges to key in on embody obvious candidates, equal to Acton-Boxboro, Lincoln-Sudbury and Needham. Franklin is shaping as a lot as make noise out of the Hockomock League, with completely different packages equal to Harmony-Carlisle, Natick and North Andover lurking as doable sleepers.
Billerica (18-5) launched right into a unbelievable run to the Div. 2 championship ultimate spring. Whereas the Warriors seen their season end by the arms of Longmeadow (a 9-8 double overtime loss June 21), there’s a great deal of trigger for pleasure this 12 months. The school boasts arguably the state’s prime goaltender in Scottie Einarson (315 saves), who’s sure for Bryant subsequent fall. The Warriors may flip defensively to Franklin Pierce commit Kyle Breitwieser and Nick Magliozzi, who’s headed for St. Leo’s. Junior attackman Aidan Gibbons will current a scoring spark after racking up 52 targets and 31 assists ultimate 12 months.
Longmeadow has made the state finals each of the sooner two seasons, and gained the title in 2022 with a purpose by Coleson Hanrahan. Now, the Lancers could be relying on senior midfielder Dominic Veratti (a Tempo College commit) and attackman John Wright (principal purpose scorer from ultimate season). To not say, the varsity moreover welcomes once more Merrimack commit Antonio Izzo, and a defensive stalwart in Ryan Dzierzcowski.
With two Saint Anselm commits in prolonged stick middie Nate Johnson and goaltender Finn Granara slated to make a comeback, Studying (18-4) as a sturdy candidate to realize the state semifinals for a third consecutive season, if not win all of it. Final 12 months, the Rockets surrendered a median of merely 6.5 targets per recreation. Anticipate that growth to proceed, as St. Lawrence-bound Mike Miele will anchor points on the defensive end as captain.
The Patriot League should even be well-represented in Div. 2. Duxbury (17-5) launched right into a voyage to the Closing 4 one 12 months once more, and may keep a contender due to its depth. Wyatt Glass is slated to information the Dragons on assault, with prolonged stick middie Parker Villarin and defenseman Christian Biggins shoring points up defensively.
In the meantime, Scituate (15-5) could be attempting to carry tempo with their native rivals, and sees the return of key cogs equal to James Sullivan (63 targets, 11 assists) and Will Robinson (42 targets, 23 assists). Different teams that may make a leap on this space embody Marblehead, Nauset and Westwood.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jimmy Ayers (St. John’s Prep)
Christian Biggins (Duxbury)
Ryan Blagg (Chelmsford)
Kyle Breitweiser (Billerica)
James Carroll (BC Excessive)
Jayden Consigli (Franklin)
Luke Davis (Franklin)
Scott Einarson (Billerica)
Aidan Gibbons (Billerica)
Wyatt Glass (Duxbury)
Finn Granara (Studying)
Henry Hasselbeck (Xaverian)
Joe Hennessey (Hingham)
Anthony Izzo (Longmeadow)
Nate Johnson (Studying)
Mike Miele (Studying)
Matt Morrow (St. John’s Prep)
Jack O’Hanian (Harmony-Carlisle)
Brendan Owens (Xaverian)
Charlie Packard (Hingham)
Griffin Prepared (Xaverian)
Sebastian Reyes (Xaverian)
Tyler Sacchetti (Franklin)
James Sullivan (Scituate)
Jake Vana (St. John’s Prep)
Dominic Veratti (Longmeadow)
Parker Villarin (Duxbury)
