Boys Lacrosse Has Strong Start Under New Coach
Story Updated 1:38PM Wednesday, April 18, 2012
– Allison Goldsberry
The boys varsity lacrosse team has compiled a strong 7-1 record under new head coach Chris Doyle.
The Mustangs’ most recent win was a 10-5 victory over Matignon on Tuesday morning. The team has also defeated Greater Boston League rivals Malden (15-4, April 11) and Cambridge (9-7, April 16). Medford also posted a big home win over Shawsheen Tech, 10-8, on April 13.
Chris McCarthy led his team offensively in the victory over Malden, netting four goals. Owen Healey and Dan Bozovic each added two goals and an assist, Ryan McCarthy and Anthony Tortora each had three goals and two assists, and Brian Whooley contributed a goal. With a comfortable 12-2 league at the end of the third quarter Medford was able to get some younger players some experience.
“We put in some younger call ups from JV who struggled a bit with the Malden starters, but it was great to give them some valuable playing experience,” said Coach Doyle.
Joe McCaffrey, Brendan Baker, Steve Mahoney, Healey, Tortora, and Jimmy Cecchini provided a “very solid” defensive effort. Goalie Steve Center “played very well,” according to Doyle.
“He made some big stop in the third quarter to keep them off the board,” said Coach Doyle.
Medford handed Shawsheen Tech, previously undefeated, its first loss of the season.
“It was a very good game, back and forth. We were down 6-5 at half time…We used the halftime to re-emerge as what I like to call ‘the new Medford’ team. We were able to open up with four goals…We did a much better job with possession in the second half,” said Doyle.
The team’s only loss so far this season came at the hands of Brookline, who beat the Mustangs during the regular season last year and ended their state tournament run.
Doyle said this season’s loss to Brookline was “an improvement” over last year’s losses.
“I was impressed with our hard work in the second half. It was the first time we had our back to the wall and we came out strong. We traded penalties and man up opportunites and were able to get the game to 11-7 before we allowed a man down goal to change the momentum. We faught hard in the second half, splitting it 5-5, but it was not enough to overcome,” said Coach Doyle.
Medford followed up the loss to Brookline with a 15-1 win over first year program Lowell Catholic. Three Mustangs had hat tricks- Ryan McCarthy, Owen Healey, and Erik Baptista.
Medford heads to Natick (3-2) on Saturday. Doyle said Natick will be a “big test” for the Mustangs. He hopes the team will sew up both the GBL title and a state tournament bid in the coming weeks.