Sports
Lincoln-Sudbury Boys' Lacrosse Team Earns Postseason Berth
Warriors beat rival Acton-Boxborough 14-6 on Tuesday to clinch at least a share of the Dual County League Large title.
Three weeks ago, Lincoln-Sudbury boys' lacrosse coach Brian Vona was reeling from an 8-7 loss to Dual County League rival Acton-Boxborough and looking for some sign of growth in his young squad.
In Tuesday's rematch, L-S showed its growth in a big way by beating A-B, 14-6, and clinching a playoff spot with at least a share of the DCL (Large) title.
“I saw four freshman and eight sophomores playing most of the game today and they are playing now,” said Vona. “We were losing tight games early and now we are starting to get used to that fight. Kids are growing up.”
Find out what's happening in Sudburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A-B (11-6, 5-2) will need a win against Newton South to split the title with L-S (8-7, 6-2) and grab a postseason berth.
With the teams entering the second quarter tied 2-2, L-S went on a seven-goal run that would help cement its victory.
Find out what's happening in Sudburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
As L-S sophomore Henry Guild moved the ball in front of the net, fellow sophomore Jordan Dow found a gap created by Guild and received an open shot for the first goal of the second quarter at 11:04. Nine and a half minutes later, senior Connor Hall found just enough space behind the crease to score a low angle goal and put L-S up 9-2.
“When I am behind I am pushing the back side where there are not as many defensemen,” said Hall. “We were just running hard, not being tentative, keeping the ball hot, and just trying to play fast.”
“We had a lot of long possessions where if we did not get the look we wanted, we would just run it again,” added L-S sophomore Dan Delaney
The two teams traded two goals again in the third quarter.
At 7:23, A-B junior Kyle Soroka finished a long side-arm rip to bring the score to 10-4. Scuffling for a rebound three minutes later, Dow kicked the ball in to put the Warriors back up by seven.
“When you are getting to the net and the goalie is making saves it can go one of two ways,” said Vona. “You can cower, pack it in and say we are never going to beat this kid like we did last game, or you can realize you are getting to the net and you just have to finish. Our kids believed.”
Outscoring the Colonials again in the final quarter, sophomore Matt Hall, Connor Hall and Dow each added a goal for L-S. A mid-level rip by Soroka to bring the score to 14-6 at 1:32 proved too late for the Colonials.
“They controlled the ball better this game and they did not throw it away,” said A-B coach Pat Ammendolia. “Offensively, we were just trying to play our game, get the ball to the offense, and let them move it and put it in.”
Connor Hall led the game in scoring with five goals and three assists. Delaney, Matt Hall, and Soroka all had three goals.
“I just tried to keep my feet moving and play off my other attack partners,” said Connor Hall. “A lot of people like Dan (Delaney) were drawing attention up top and that opened up seams that I capitalized on.”
L-S junior goalie Dan Shaughnessy had seven saves on 12 attempts, while A-B senior Jack Rogers had eight saves on 22 attempts.
“We did really well in the first quarter, but their goalie is excellent,” said Vona. “We were getting to the net, but he was making the saves.”
L-S next hosts Cohasset (9-4) at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
“(Sophomores) are learning to play fearless and they are stepping up,” said Delaney. “All the young guys are filling in and learning their roles. Are offense is just coming together and our defense is playing great.”