Boys Lacrosse Team Earns Second Win of Season
The boys varsity lacrosse team with new Head Coach Chris Doyle at their home opener March 31.
– Allison Goldsberry
The boys varsity lacrosse team soundly defeated Manchester-Essex 16-7 at home on Thursday. The win is the second of the season for Medford, which is now under the direction of new Head Coach Chris Doyle.
“We put in a very solid three days of practice this week after our opening game, getting back to the basics of our new team concepts. It started to come together on both sides of the ball on Wednesday and we put in the hard work for a ‘full 48? (which is our team motto) to get the win,†said Coach Doyle.
The lopsided victory wasn’t apparent early on. The game opened with Manchester-Essex awarded the ball due to a new MIAA rule that could be costly for all Mustang home games. According to Doyle, the rule says all fields must have a clearly marked center line all the way across the field. Medford’s field has an “M†logo in the center and no solid line, so until the field is marked correctly the team will lose the first possession of every home game. During Thursday’s game Manchester-Essex took advantage of the first possession, scoring within the first ten seconds, and was up 2-0 before the Mustangs settled down defensively and got the offense going.
Anthony Tortora added two goals while Ryan McCarthy and Chris McCarthy contributed a goal each to get the Mustangs in the game with a 4-3 lead. At this point, the defense of Jimmy Cecchini, Tortora, R. McCarthy, Brendan Baker, Joe McCaffrey, and Owen Healey “stepped up their game†and held Manchester-Essex scoreless. Steve Mahoney, filling in for long stick midfielder for the first time, impressed Coach Doyle so much he might have found himself a new position.
Dan Bozovic, R. McCarthy, and Tortora contributed additional goals to end the half with Medford up 9-3.
Coach Doyle was happy to see more consistent discipline and structure throughout the game.
“The attack consisting of Brian Whooley, C .McCarthy, and Erik Baptista played a very solid game. They provided patience with the ball, good movement and ball control. Midfielders Healey, R. McCarthy, and Tortora led the way while Cory Mortell, Connor Lonergan and Alex Auditore provided solid efforts as well,†said Doyle.
Whooley, Tortora, Baptista, R. McCarthy, Healey, and C. McCarthy added goals in the second half to bring the team total to sixteen. Defensively, three players new to the game of lacrosse helped hold off Manchester-Essex. Baker and Nick Olivier put in “solid†efforts while Steve Center, tending the Mustangs’ goal, “played a solid game between the pipes, making some big second half saves as Manchester-Essex tried to mount their comeback, earning his second win,†said Coach Doyle.
After losing a tough road game to Brookline, 14-8, on Saturday, the Mustangs are looking forward to three upcoming home games this week. Lowell Catholic, Malden, and Shawsheen visit Medford on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, respectively. Each game starts at 4PM.