[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Senior midfielder Tommy Gill (1) dodges by a defender.
After Westwood defeated Medfield (9-8) for the first time in program history last season to earn themselves a share of the TVL regular season title, some wondered whether the Wolverines would be the new team to beat in boys lacrosse heading into 2019. On Tuesday night, that question was answered loudly when Westwood traveled to Medfield to open up conference play.
John Isaf’s boys proved that they are still the cream of the crop in the TVL.
Behind senior captain and Endicott-committed attack-man Mike Hauptman (seven goals, one assist) and junior attack-man Jake Sherman (five goals, two assists), the Warriors cruised to an 18-6 victory to improve to 2-0 (2-0 TVL), while Westwood dropped to 1-1 (1-1 TVL). Conor Donohue led the Wolverines with a pair of goals.
Junior fogo and Holy Cross commit Connor DePiero (18 of 25 face-offs) scored off of a face-off to break a 1-1 tie midway through the third, opening up the floodgates of what would become an 11-1 run by Medfield to conclude the half and give the Warriors a commanding 12-2 lead at halftime.
Junior attack/mid Jimmy Cosolito (11) fights through a stick-check and moves the ball up the wing.
The second half saw DePiero continue to excel at the face-off X, despite going up against some high-level competition from Westwood in junior Charlie Harrington (one goal, two assists) and senior Kevin Lyons. With possession advantage, Medfield built their lead to as many as 15 behind goals from Hauptman, Sherman, Jack McCordic (one goal, two assists), Brian Abely (two goals), and Luke Murphy to take a 17-2 lead into the fourth.
Westwood cut into the Medfield lead early in the fourth quarter, thanks to back-to-back goals by Ryan Healey (one goal, one assist) and Harrington, but the deficit proved to be too much. Medfield finished strongly for the convincing 18-6 victory.
Junior midfielder Mike Tyer (40) moves the ball up the field following a Westwood turnover.
Now at 4-0, Medfield has climbed up to No. 8 in the latest BostonLax rankings after Saturday’s 22-1 win over Shenendehowa (NY). The Warriors will take on the high-powered Xaverian Hawks on April 17 before hosting Pinkerton Academy (NH) on April 20.
Westwood, meanwhile, bounced back with an 8-5 victory over Hopkinton on Friday and will look to keep up the momentum against Dover-Sherborn on April 24.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0.
