Every sport has its share of blue blood programs. The ones who seemingly find their way back into title contention every single year.
For almost two decades now, Medfield has been in that conversation for lacrosse. The Warriors weren’t just the top team in Div. 3 last spring: some might argue they were a top five squad in the Commonwealth. After knocking off Scituate (a 13-4 victory) to claim the championship last June, it’s easy to pencil in the Warriors as a favorite again, especially with its returning cogs. This year, expect Medfield to be powered by senior captains Ben Lusby (24 goals last year) and All-American FOGO John Olenik (face-off winning rate of 84%). Junior attackman Braeden Sutton (45 goals, 16 assists) and Ian Reddy (16 goals, nine assists) are also expected to take on lead roles for the Warriors.
Scituate is just like Medfield. The Sailors have been a consistent threat at every level dating to their days in Div. 2. Since dropping to Div. 3 recently, not much has changed, and this year the school brings back its primary scoring threat in senior Willy Robinson (216 career goals, 90 assists). The Sailors look to build upon last year’s run to the championship game with the Army (West Point) commit holding point. They will also be led by fellow seniors Owen Hofford and Quinn DeCourcey, as well as junior goaltender Lydon O’Brien.
The Cape and Islands League was well-represented among the Div. 3 elite in 2024. After enduring a gauntlet of a regular season schedule, Nauset rolled to the Final Four. With Logan Poulin coming back, as well as Assumption commit Joey Berardi and Brendan Peno, it would not be a surprise if the Warriors catch fire. Their longtime league cohort Falmouth also made the state semifinals last spring, continuing a winning school tradition. This time, the Clippers will have to overcome some key losses, but they could remain in the hunt if things break their way.
After enjoying a memorable 2024 pilgrimage to the Elite 8, Burlington witnessed turnover in the offseason. Now former assistant Ryan Doherty steps in for longtime coach Brenden Maney. On the field, however, things remain status quo. The Red Devils retain the likes of reigning Middlesex League (Freedom) MVP Nolan Jennings (65 goals, 30 assists), as well as Daniel Hanafin (59 goals, 18 assists), who are expected to lead a star-studded roster. Quinn McDonald, a Johnson and Wales commit, will remain in net.
Life might just feel a little bit different at Dover-Sherborn as Brian McLaughlin retired from coaching after a 26-year run with the program. Former Maryland lacrosse star Dan Morris takes over the Raiders, looking to start his own era.
Other Div. 3 teams we should be monitoring include Newburyport, Nashoba, Shawsheen Tech and Apponequet.
The seas were rough at times during the ferry trips, but the final ride back was all worth it for Nantucket, which captured the Div. 4 crown with an unforgettable 7-6 win over Sandwich. It was the program’s first-ever championship. Can the Whalers repeat? It’s entirely possible, since they will have junior midfielder Arann Hanlon back in the fold, leading things offensively. His classmate Jeremy Jenkinson is back in net as a stonewall.
For the past few years now, Sandwich has approached the pinnacle only to come up just short, faltering in the past three Div. 4 state championships to Wahconah, Cohasset and Nantucket by a combined six goals. Could this be the year the Blue Knights buck that trend? They will look to bring the elusive championship back over the Sagamore with key figures like Cole Rodgers (173 career goals), who is chasing the program’s all-time goals record. His brother Luke will be anchoring the defensive unit, while Lincoln Shinn is expected to step up as an LSM.
Sandwich might have to contend in the South Shore League with Norwell. Coming off a journey to the state semifinals, the Clippers look to start fresh with leaders such as Jake McGuirk and Oliver ‘Ollie’ Rice. Meanwhile, Cohasset will always be there, lurking as a candidate to go on a deep run. The Skippers will lean on their top scoring threats from last year. Gus Greene (46 goals, 26 assists) has started every game since his freshman season, while Shane Mulcahy (41 goals, 36 assists) also makes his return.
Some may have referred to Swampscott’s trip to the Final Four as a Cinderella story, given the program’s tournament seeding (No. 13 overall). Its players might think differently, as the Big Blue only dropped two games all of last season. Geoff Becket’s group will look to prove doubters wrong again.
The Div. 4 field will be contested. Expect programs like Lynnfield, Weston and Pentucket to be in the mix.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joey Berardi (Nauset)
Quinn DeCourcey (Scituate)
Matthew Grafton (Abington)
Gus Greene (Cohasset)
Daniel Hanafin (Burlington)
Owen Hofford (Scituate)
Nolan Jennings (Burlington)
Jason Kane (Burlington)
Liam Keaney (Swampscott)
Max Leavitt (Burlington)
Ben Lusby (Medfield)
Quinn McDonald (Burlington)
Jake McGuirk (Norwell)
Shane Mulcahy (Cohasset)
Lydon O’Brien (Scituate)
John Olenik (Medfield)
Brendan Peno (Nauset)
Logan Poulin (Nauset)
Noah Rafferty (Cohasset)
Ian Reddy (Medfield)
Oliver ‘Ollie’ Rice (Norwell)
Willy Robinson (Scituate)
Cole Rodgers (Sandwich)
Luke Rodgers (Sandwich)
Jason Rothwell (Swampscott)
Lincoln Shinn (Sandwich)
Jake Sloan (Burlington)
Jackson Smith (Falmouth)
Braeden Sutton (Medfield)
