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Coach Phil Reuland couldn’t have asked for a better start to the postseason from his Winchester High School boys lacrosse team. They were all over visiting Shrewsbury last Friday night (May 30) to the tune of 15-2 to kick off the state tournament season with a flair in the Round of 32.
The local laxmen (13-7) started the playoffs as the 10th seed in Division 1, while the Colonials (6-13), who play their regular season games in the Midland-Wachusett League, were ranked 23rd.
The Winchester boys will now be taking on Westford Academy (15-3), the seventh seed, in the Sweet 16 game Tuesday night (June 3) in Westford, starting at 7 p.m. The Ghosts, a Dual County League member, defeated Haverhill (10-7), the 26th seed, in their Round of 32 game, 18-4 on May 31.
The offensive explosion against the Colonials was led by the junior brigade of Ryan Martin (6 goals, 1 assist), Gianni DePrimeo (3 goals) and Will Mango (2 goals, 1 assist).
Reuland has turned his attention to Westford Academy, once again Winchester’s Sweet 16 opponent on Tuesday night.
“They are a very good team, and so we will need to play great team defense against them, and also everybody else if we beat them, moving forward,” the Red & Black boys coach said.
A total of 32 teams made the playoffs in Division 1 this year. The Red & Black is the 10th seed, and those schools who are ahead of them in the rankings are as follows: Boston College High (15-3), St. John's Prep (17-1), Lincoln-Sudbury (12-4), Andover (11-3), Acton-Boxborough (14-3), Concord-Carlisle (15-3), Westford Academy (14-3), Bishop Feehan (15-3) and Xaverian Brothers (8-10). Just like the Red & Black, all of these teams also won in the Round of 32. Going forward, the action is definitely going to be heating up with only four more games left before a team is crowned the 2025 state champs.
St. John’s Prep defeated Needham, 17-13 in the state title game last year. On its way to the finale, Needham eliminated Winchester in a close Sweet 16 matchup, 9-6. Prior to that contest, the Red & Black took down Arlington in the Round of 32, 13-3. The Winchester boys would like nothing better than to flip that script, and continue on to the Elite 8 this year.
