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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The 2018 high school lacrosse season was all about Westwood High star attack-man Jake Antonucci, who fired home a ridiculous 75 shots into the back of the net and tallied 19 assists, all while becoming Westwood’s all-time leading scorer (214 goals, 89 assists).
After leading Westwood to the program’s first-ever wins over Medfield and Dover-Sherborn, as well as a share of the TVL title, Antonucci was named a finalist for BostonLax’s Bruce Lerch award (state MVP), TVL MVP, EMCLA first-team All-American and both Herald and Glove All-Scholastic.
Now a freshman at Providence College, Antonucci has picked up right where he left off at the end of his high school career, already scoring a pair of goals and tallying an assist through three games played during Providence’s 2-2 start to the season (missed fourth game vs. St. Joe’s due injury).
Despite Antonucci’s natural position being attack, the Friars have utilized the former Westwood All-American as a wing off of face-offs and a defensive midfielder. In Providence’s season-opener against Boston University, Antonucci scooped up a groundball off of a face-off, broke into the Terriers box and bounced home a shot down low for his first career college goal. Antonucci finished the day with five groundballs, a goal, and an assist.
In Providence’s 12-5 win over Holy Cross on February 9, Antonucci again lit up the scoreboard with one of his signature right-handed cranks off of a face-off victory. Antonucci scooped up three groundballs on February 16 against in-state rival Bryant before sitting out Saturday’s contest with St. Joe’s due to injury.
Assuming Antonucci returns to full health, it’s safe to say that the Friars have found themselves a gem at the midfield position - and one that is only going to continue to improve as his collegiate career rolls on.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0.
