A 20-game win streak? Billerica boys' lacrosse built for a trip to Division 2 semifinals

Boston Globe

3 days ago

Billerica's set defense was nearly impenetrable with Caden Canney, Daniel Kinsella, and senior captain AJ Parrella holding down the back line in front of junior goalie Nolan Heffernan (8 saves). Walpole (17-4) came in averaging over 13 goals per game, but could never get rolling, with five of its six goals coming unassisted.
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'We knew defensively, we had to minimize their guys and did a really good job on that end,' said Parrella, 'It was just a really good team win.'
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When Walpole started to chip away at a 6-2 halftime deficit in the third quarter, Gearin provided the response. The electric middie, who missed the majority of the season with a broken tibia, scored three times in the frame and provided the first four goals for his squad in the second half to keep the Wolves at bay. Gearin also provided an early spark with three assists in the first quarter.
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'[Gearin has] been itching to go,' said Nickerson. 'He had some pent up energy and tonight was a big release for him. We knew it would be a good matchup for him against their defense, but I didn't think it would be this good. He was awesome tonight.'
Division 1
Lincoln-Sudbury 14, Concord-Carlisle 5 —
With a decisive third-quarter surge, the third-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury boys' lacrosse team pulled away from No. 6 Concord-Carlisle quarterfinal.
Junior Brady Malo paced Lincoln-Sudbury (15-4) with three goals, and seniors Rex Friedholm, Nolan Martindale, and Will Fosnot added two apiece.
'Our seniors really stepped up today,' Lincoln-Sudbury coach Brian Vona said.
Lincoln-Sudbury built a 3-2 edge through one quarter and 6-3 halftime advantage after a slick behind-the-back pass from Friedholm to Malo in the final seconds. The Harvard-bound Friedholm dictated the action throughout the night, and senior Dante Venuto was sharp at the face-off X.
Senior Jason Swaim (3 goals) helped the Patriots (17-4) stay within striking distance, then Fosnot spearheaded a 6-2 third quarter for Lincoln-Sudbury to make it 12-5. The Patriots made some noise in the fourth, but the outcome had already been sealed.
After quarterfinal exits each of the past two seasons, the Warriors are back in familiar territory. They'll face No. 2 St. John's Prep in the semifinals Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Burlington High.
'I've never been to a Final Four game,' Friedholm said. 'A lot of these guys have never been. We were dying, we were dying. We were just clawing, scratching, everything we needed to do.'
Division 2 State
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Westwood 9, Longmeadow 8 —
Senior Troy Fredrickson fired in the winner with 2:15 remaining (and assisted on another) to propel the 10th-seeded Wolverines (16-4) to the first semifinal appearance in program history.
'Today is one of the best days of my life,' an ecstatic coach Todd Zahurak said after the win. While there's not a singular star on the roster, 'we have a bunch of 'A' players that nobody really knows about,' said Zahurak.
Junior attackman Sam Cochran had a trio of goals and classmate Jaden Pollack had 12 saves as the Wolverines completed a nearly 200-mile trip to upset No. 2 Longmeadow (17-4). Zahurak credited his defense, including junior Ryan Williams and senior Kyle Harvey for keeping a solid Longmeadow attack off the board.
'This group just really believes in each other, and they play for each other,' said Zahurak.
Corresponents Lenny Rowe and Chloe Wojtanik contributed.
Nate Weitzer can be reached at