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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Dover-Sherborn’s Cam Raycroft (29) moves the ball up field on a clear with Westwood’s Conor Donohue (2) hot in pursuit on the ride.
With Westwood boys lacrosse having defeated Dover-Sherborn for the first time in program history last spring, each side had it out for Wednesday afternoon’s rematch in Raider country.
For DS, the goal was simple: avenge last year’s defeat to the Wolverines.
For Westwood, winning two in a row against a team they had previously never beaten heading into last season was certainly appealing, to say the least. In the early going, it looked as if that would be the exact outcome, as the Wolverines jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, thanks to a pair of goals by Conor Donohue and one from Owen Gaffney.
Henry Kenney got DS on the board midway through the second quarter to make it a 3-1 game, but Ryan Healey responded for Westwood with a dodge from GLE and finish down low to make it a 4-1 game at halftime.
The second half was a completely different story. In fact, it was the exact opposite of everything that transpired in the first half.
DS began the half on a 4-0 run behind a pair of goals by Kenney, one from Ford Pegram, and one from Timothy Polk to jump in front 5-4, forcing Westwood to a timeout. Conor Donohue responded for Westwood, tying the game at five with a dodge from X and a backhanded finish down low.
Noah Guarini reclaimed the lead for Dover-Sherborn off of a feed from Erik Niit to make it a 6-5 game. Kenney’s fourth of the day via a quick stick off of a feed from Polk made it a 7-5 game, followed by a miracle buzzer-beater off a half-field heave by Cam Raycroft and a dump-in by Pegram at the net-mouth. DS carried an 8-5 lead into the fourth.
Westwood’s John Cappucino attempts to split a DS double team of Erik Niit (26) and Henry Kenney (11).
Even without their star sophomore attack-man Pierce Gregory (wrist), Dover-Sherborn’s offense continued to thrive in the final quarter, scoring four goals to finish off an 11-1 run to conclude the game. When the dust had settled, DS came away with an impressive 12-5 victory to avenge last season’s defeat.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0.
