Warriors duplicated 15-5 record, added an M.L. Freedom division title to their achievements
THE WMHS boys’ lacrosse team finished with a 15-5 record for the second straight year and captured the Middlesex League Freedom division title. Members of the team included Ryan Chambers, Anthony Drinkwater, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Austin Collard, Nick McGee, Mike Ruane, Will Miller, Pat Leary, Brandon Grinnell, MJ Urbano, Ned Buckley, Bryan Noyes, Vin Ferretti, James McAuliffe, Alex Mansour, Alex Flynn, PJ Iannuzzi, Alex Joly, Ty Collins, Dylan Frank, Dylan Brady, Andrew DeLeary, Justin Sullivan, Robert Keegan and Stephen Marino. The head coach was Andrew Lavalle and he was assisted by Doug Gallant. Tim Johnson was the JV coach. (Donna Larsson Photo)
Published in the July 3, 2015 edition
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD — For the Wakefield Memorial High School boys’ lacrosse team, there were many lofty expectations entering the 2015 season. After going 15-5 in 2014, the Warriors had their sights set on state tournament glory. After a great run, the Warriors came up a little shy of a state title but it was an exciting and fun run to watch as they went 15-5 once again.
It was the first year under the direction of head coach Andrew Lavalle but his bond with the players had gone back the past few seasons as he served as an assistant coach on the staff.
For Lavalle, he inherited a game-ready team that was hungry to compete.
“Everybody’s goal is to win the last game of the year,” Lavalle said. “But it’s important to remember that success can’t be measured in wins and losses. We couldn’t have tried any harder and we couldn’t have developed any better. Did you do your best to be the best you’re capable of being? I feel like we definitely did that.”
Lavalle is a young guy, at just 31 years of age, his players follow his example the way a younger brother emulates his older sibling.
“We tried to preach character, effort and preparation. A lot of the guys performed,” said Lavalle.
Through the past three to four years there has been a culture change all through Wakefield lacrosse. Lavalle has been there and gone through it with the players and people associated with the program. He embodied and exuded what it has become to mean to play for Wakefield lacrosse.
“The big thing is,” Lavalle said. “Especially some of the seniors on the team, they started on a Wakefield lacrosse team that didn’t have a whole lot of history and tradition behind it as far as the postseason is concerned and winning records are concerned. By their senior year, we were the team to beat.
“They put the team on their back, those seniors,” continued Lavalle. “When a lot of the guys started as freshmen, we were a team that didn’t have as much success as we have today. They really changed the culture and the dynamic of the program. Now we can take a look at these younger guys and say, if they can go from a team that barely made the playoffs to a team that is perennially in the playoffs, imagine what we can do as young guys. The seniors set the precedent as a team that can really achieve.
“It’s attitude, it’s culture and the guys have to buy into it,” added Lavalle. “If they believe they can make a difference and help our team win, they’re probably going to do so.”
With Lavalle, it isn’t about just winning. At 15-5 this year they won a lot of games. Along the way they took down league rivals Woburn, Lexington, Winchester, Watertown, Arlington and Melrose to name a few. They took down Shawsheen Tech in the quarterfinal round of the tournament before being upset by Marblehead in the Div. 2 North semifinals.
It isn’t even just about lacrosse for Lavalle as he aims to affect how his players approach everything they do on a day to day basis.
“League champs, that was huge,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it was one of our goals but it was one of the things we kept our eyes on throughout the whole season. We weren’t really focused on the league. We were focused on beating teams, on every practice, on every ground ball. We were focused on putting fourth that winning attitude and that has to do with trying your best at everything you do
“That’s what we tried to focus on. We focused on the little things,” added Lavalle. “A thing I try to remind my guys and myself is that it’s about the journey, not the destination. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better year of lacrosse in my life. I’ve been around lacrosse around 20 years at this point, I’ve never liked a team more and I’ve never had more fun on a team. That’s counting my playing days, any team I’ve ever coached, or been around. We just had a great group of guys with great character and we got awesome effort throughout the year. There is a lot to root for in these kids.”
Lavalle acknowledged the hard work these kids have been putting in for years saying, “We get a lot of help from the youth program. They really do a great job of preparing these guys for varsity level lacrosse. We have guys that stepped in and made contributions right away and we really can’t thank those youth guys enough for that.”
Lavalle pointed out that the several of Wakefield’s starters, particularly on defense, are young and will be back next spring with another year’s experience under their belts.
“A lot of our starters on the defensive side were really young guys,” said Lavalle. “We got some guys in big time games that were freshmen. That’s not only the skill but also the nerves. I can’t imagine as a freshman stepping in and filling some of these guys’ shoes. We have some very talented sophomores as well and they all work hard. A lot of players who are going to return and they’re going to get better. We have guys that work so hard that there’s no doubt in my mind they’ll be getting better.”
Still the coach won’t stop looking into the future for next year.
“We’re excited to get back at things next year,” he said. “It does seem like it’s too long but around March 17 we get back to work.”
At the recent banquet, the team gave out some individual team awards.
“One of the awards we love to give out to the guys is called the Ultimate Warrior Award,” the coach said. “It goes to a guy that you would hate to play against but love to play with. It’s usually a guy who just works so hard on the field and off the field and when you have them as a coach their weapons at your disposal.”
“We gave out two this year, James McAuliffe on the attacking side and Steve Marino our long stick mid took home that award.”
Defensive player of the year went to Dylan Brady.
“He’s a guy that basically changed the culture of Wakefield lacrosse single-handedly. Any team that I’ve been around they always make freshmen do things, like fill up the water or chase balls. Dylan put the team on his back. He was getting the water, carrying the balls, just making sure everything was where it was supposed to be. He shut down every single team’s best player,”
Brandon Grinnell got the offensive player of the year. He set the record for most goals and most points in a single season at WMHS.
“That’s basically a no brainer,” said Lavalle. “This guy analyzes and interprets defenses and then attacks without mercy. He is basically another coach on the field that destroys teams.
The MVP this year was Alex Flynn.
“He kept us in so many games, and even games that weren’t close would have been a whole lot closer if it hadn’t been for Flynn making so many point blank saves. (Against) Woburn he was playing big the whole time, Winchester he came up big the entire game, Lexington wasn’t a game I’d say we won easily but we handled them pretty well. But I look back at the film at how many point blank saves he made.”
“Lacrosse is a game of runs, it gets in your head. If you let in a couple of goals, believe it or not you don’t do as well on the offensive end,” added Lavalle. “Flynn’s a guy that made these big saves against teams throughout the year. Our season would have been a lot different without him. He was a team leader in terms of getting things done off the field as well.”
Finally the coach talked a little about the future plans for some of the seniors.
“MJ Urbano is going to Curry College where he’ll play on the lacrosse team I hope. Alex Flynn is going to play at St. Anselm College. Dylan Brady is going to be a football player for Plymouth State but if I was the lacrosse coach up there I couldn’t imagine not looking up how good he is and somehow getting him on the team. I expect him to play but two sports is tough and I know he’s a football guy.”
“Vin Ferretti, our attackman is going to Florida to play for St. Leo’s down in the good weather he’s a smart guy, concluded Lavalle. “Whatever these guys set their minds to they’ll be able to achieve.”
