Warriors posted a program record 17 wins
THE WMHS boys’ lacrosse team had its best season in the program’s history posting a 17-3 overall record. Members of the Warrior team included Ned Buckley, Andrew DeLeary, Brandon Grinnell, Evan Gourville, Steve Marino, Ben Yandell, Austin Collard, Ty Collins, PJ Iannuzzi, Pat Leary, Nick McGee, William Miller, Jack Petitto, Brad Safner, Ryan Chambers, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dylan Frank, Robert Keegan, Alex Joly, Nolan Collins and Devin O’Brien. The head coach was Andrew Lavalle. (Donna Larsson Photo)
Published in the July 11, 2016 edition.
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD — The 2016 season was amazingly successful for the lacrosse programs at Wakefield Memorial High School. For the boys’ team, it was a record setting second season under the guidance of head coach Andrew Lavalle.
Lavalle’s team won a school record 17 games, while losing just three and claiming its second straight Middlesex League Freedom Division Championship.
Many of their wins came in lopsided fashion (16-1 vs. Austin Prep; 19-1 vs. Salem; 19-7 vs. Newburyport; 19-1 vs. Danvers; 19-1 vs. Stoneham; 19-0 vs. Wilmington; 17-2 vs. Belmont; 18-8 vs. Woburn; 19-9 vs. Burlington; 16-5 vs. Watertown; 19-3 vs. Arlington), but perhaps the closest and most exciting game anywhere came down to Wakefield at Winchester in the Div. 2 North semifinals.
The Warriors went up early, but the Sachems fought back and took the lead. Things looked grim for Wakefield after a stale third quarter but they turned everything around in the fourth and, with eight seconds to play, tied the score at 16-16 to send the game into sudden death overtime.
It looked as though Wakefield had won the game in overtime but a controversial call by the refs overturned a game-winning goal and play continued into a second overtime where Winchester netted the winning goal. Though the season ended on a sour note, there was nothing to feel bad about for the Warriors student-athletes in regards to their 2016 lacrosse season.
The team’s high level of play was recognized in post-season with seven of the team’s players being named Middlesex League All-Stars, including league MVP Brandon Grinnell.
Grinnell, Wakefield’s all-time leading scorer, was named the Middlesex Freedom Division MVP after piling up 72 goals and 64 assists for the Warriors this spring. A graduating senior, Grinnell will attend to Manhattan College in the fall where he’ll play Division 1 lacrosse as well as study.
Along with Grinnell, fellow seniors Ben Yandell, Andrew DeLeary and Steve Marino were named to the Middlesex League All-Star team.
Two juniors, PJ Iannuzzi and Austin Collard, were honored with All-Star recognition. Sophomore goalie Ryan Chambers was also recognized for his outstanding play with all-star honors.
Along with the all-star team members, the Warriors will miss the leadership lost from senior class members Ned Buckley and Evan Gourville.
Though they’re losing many important players, the Warriors are stocked with talent among the underclassmen. Along with Collard and Iannuzzi, promising junior players such as Braeden Langlois, Ty Collins and Pat Leary offer something for Warriors lacrosse fans to be excited about for next season.
