Warriors rout Rams, 14-1, in a wet season opener
Published in the April 5, 2017 edition
HENRY MILLER (#7) scored two goals yesterday for the Warriors in their 14-1 rout over Shawsheen Valley Tech in the season opener at the Galvin Middle School. (Donna Larsson Photo)
By DAN BYRNE
WAKEFIELD — The 2017 spring season got started off on the right foot on Tuesday when the Wakefield Memorial High School varsity boys’ lacrosse team held its home opener against Shawsheen Valley Tech.
The game was originally scheduled as a road game for the Warriors, but the inclement weather forced Shawsheen to determine its field unplayable.
The turf at the Galvin Middle School handled the rain just fine as head coach Andrew Lavalle watched his team for the first time. The Warriors dodged more than just raindrops as they used a big output in the first two quarters to cruise to a 14-1 victory.
When asked if this game ever had a chance to be rescheduled for a drier date, Lavalle said, “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, that’s the name of the game!”
Of course both teams wanted to get out on the field, but Lavalle’s team came out and went to work despite the rain.
“The score speaks for itself,” Coach Lavalle commented. “We performed, but we performed in the first half, that’s the thing.”
A big lead and worsening conditions might have led the Warriors to coast through the second half.
“We kind of fell apart in the third quarter,” Lavalle said. “Something we’re always working on here at Wakefield Lacrosse is trying to string together four quarters. Today we got two good quarters. Conditions always play a factor, I think that’s always a problem. I think that may have had a little bit to do with it, but there are things we can certainly do better.”
Still, when you win 14-1 there can’t be too much to complain about, and Lavalle made mention of the players he felt stood out in game one.
“We had a lot of great individual efforts,” he said. “We were on Austin Collard’s back the whole time, he pumped in seven goals. Anthony Forziati is a new addition. He’s looking really good for us. He’s dodging hard every time, he got four goals. Henry Miller chipped in with two and Pat Leary had one.”
In a game where a team allows just one goal, there is bound to be some defense being played. Goalie Ryan Chambers had almost nothing to do out there.
“Nolan ‘the Rocket’ Collins was a force on the field,” Lavalle said. “He is an absolute weapon, forcing turnovers and dominating ground balls.”
Shawsheen scored its lone goal down 14-0 with 30 seconds to play to prevent the shutout.
Still Lavalle saw much to improve upon.
“We didn’t play a team game,” he said. “We didn’t play the game we necessarily wanted to play, but overall everyone is working really hard. We just need to put it together. We have it together individually, we want to put it together as a team.”
To sum it up Lavalle said, “The name of the game is great individual effort, but we have a lot to work on, that’s what it comes down to. I think today we identified a few of those things that we need to work better at. It’s all there, we just need to put it together. It’s a long process that’s for sure.
When asked how important that first win is Lavalle said, “That’s half the battle. It’s always good to get the first one. It’s a good game overall, but we can improve that’s the big thing.”
The next game sees Lexington High School visiting the Warriors to open Middlesex League play.
Lavalle is hoping to patch up some of the holes he saw before then.
“Lexington Thursday,” he said. “If we perform like that it’s not going to be as good, it’s not going to go as well.”
That contest is scheduled for tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Landrigan Field.
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WAKEFIELD GOALS — A. Collard 7, A. Forziati 4, H. Miller 2, P. Leary 1.
