After persevering through painful losses, Scituate boys' lacrosse sails out as Division 3 champion

Boston Globe

a day ago

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But after taking down top-seeded Medfield, 11-9, in the state semifinals Wednesday, the fifth-seeded Sailors (19-5) would not be denied a storybook ending.
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'My fear was that we used so much mental and physical energy to play at the highest level we could against Medfield and we had to come into this game and find the same attitude,' said Scituate coach Mark Puzzangara, who guided the program to its last state title in 2009 in his first year at the helm.
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'But when Willy [Robinson] tells the guys, 'We got this.' Everybody listens. That's just the seniors we have. There was no panic. We've been here before. We knew what we needed to do, so it's a tribute to them.'
Senior captain Lydon O'Brien (committed to Mass Maritime) made five of his 13 saves in the first quarter, offsetting a faceoff discrepancy and sparking the Sailors offense, even assisting on an early goal to junior Luke Spaulding, who posted 4 points (3 goals, assist) during a 7-2 first half.
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When No. 3 Falmouth (18-6) rallied to close the gap to 7-4 in the third quarter, Robinson (2 goals) shut the door with a goal as time expired in the frame. Fellow senior captains Owen Hofford (2 goals, assist) and Quinn DeCourcey (goal, assist) rounded out the offense.
'These guys have been through hell and back and it shows the type of young men they are,' Puzzangara said. 'They're so mentally tough and to be able to compartmentalize all the emotions and just focus on doing the job, I can't say enough. It's a special group.'
Robinson and several of his teammates were instrumental parts of Scituate's run to a Division 4 Super Bowl last fall, avenging a loss to rival Duxbury the previous December.
Closing the redemption arc with another state title, Robinson finishes as one of the top athletes in school history. Before looking ahead to his lacrosse career at West Point, the 400-point scorer took extra time to sign banners and lacrosse balls for the fans and community members that have supported him throughout his career.
'When I was coming up and I would ask about [scoring] records or anything, [my dad] always said, 'It doesn't matter what records you have, it's how you make your mark. And how you make your mark is leaving a banner in that gym,'' Robinson said.
'I've always gone into the gym and looked up at the rafters and wanted to put up a banner, and now we've put up two. So it means the world.'
In his finale, 400-point career scorer Willy Robinson scored a pair of goals for Scituate. 'I've always gone into the gym and looked up at the rafters and wanted to put up a banner, and now we've put up two [football and lacrosse]. So it means the world.'
Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo
Falmouth's Charlie Hostetter tries to maintain possession in the Division 3 final.
Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo
Scituate celebrates with their fans after winning the championship at Mass. Maritime Academy.
Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo
A banner day on Buzzards Bay for Scituate lacrosse.
Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo
Nate Weitzer can be reached at