Boys’ lax team wraps up historic regular season
By Jay TurnerUpdate: In the team’s first-ever tournament home game, the CHS boys’ lacrosse team defeated 18th seeded Lynnfield in the preliminary round of the Division 3 east sectionals on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs will next face No. 2 Weston on Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. at Weston High School. See next week’s Citizen for complete tournament coverage.
With a non-league win over Bishop Connolly in last Wednesday’s finale, the CHS boys’ varsity lacrosse team wrapped up its most successful season in program history, finishing 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the newly formed Davenport Division.
For head coach Bill Bendell, the success this season has only reaffirmed what he suspected all along about this particular group — that it is deep and talented, perhaps more so than any other Canton lacrosse team that has come before it.
But while Bendell openly admitted on Monday that he “couldn’t be happier” with what the team has accomplished thus far, he was also confident that his team could “make a little run” in the Division 3 east sectional tournament. The Bulldogs, seeded 15th out of 26 teams, were scheduled to get their first crack on Tuesday in a preliminary round matchup with 18th seeded Lynnfield — their first-ever tournament home game.
From there the road would get considerably tougher, with the winner earning a first round matchup against No. 2 Weston, which has lost just twice all year.
“I wouldn’t put anything past our kids the way that they’ve been playing,” said Bendell.
While the coach is expected to say such things, the Bulldogs certainly looked like a contender after their 8-0 thrashing of Bishop Connolly (Fall River), a team seeded 21st in the D3 tourney.
Originally scheduled as a road game on May 16, the meeting was moved to Canton due to poor field conditions and the Bulldogs took full advantage, jumping out to a fast start and then controlling the possession game the rest of the way.
Bendell said sophomore JC Marcone played his best game of the season, scoring a team-high three goals and playing excellent defense. Junior captain Matt Malloy finished with two goals and one assist, and sophomore Pat Ward added a goal and two assists.
Bendell also praised the performance of his two seniors: TJ Lennon, who picked up a team-high seven ground balls, and Max Kamin, who scored a goal and collected five ground balls. Bendell said the two co-captains lead by example and have both been a huge part of the team’s success this year.
Wednesday’s victory was even more meaningful because it came just one day after a demoralizing 14-3 loss to Mansfield in the Hockomock League crossover game.
“[Beating Bishop Connolly] was a big win for us,” said Bendell. “It was a testament to our guys that we bounced back from a loss and took care of business the next day.”
The coach said the Mansfield loss was probably closer than the score indicated, but it was hardly the team’s best effort.
The three Bulldog goals were scored by three different players: Kurt Leavitt, who also had an assist, Matt Lennon, and Calvin Winchell. Malloy chipped in with one assist.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=5578
Posted by Jay Turner
on Jun 1 2011. Filed under High School, Sports.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
