Boys Lacrosse Advances Following Blowout Win Over Bellingham High School

Photography by David Creed

The Whaler boys lacrosse team came into Div. 4 state tournament play as the number eight seed in the 32-team bracket, and they looked every bit as good as their ranking indicated in a 16-2 beat down of the Bellingham Blackhawks on Tuesday.

“I just told the kids I think the ball movement in the first half on offense, the initiative to pass, cut, and find the open spaces was the best I have seen in two years from our team,” head coach Sam Aloisi said. “Now maybe this wasn’t the strongest defense but it honestly wouldn’t have mattered when you move the ball like that. We have been telling them to do this all year and I think they might believe us after today.”

The Whaler’s dominated possession for the entire game thanks to some strong face-off work by senior midfielder Cole Evens. It allowed them to score 16 straight goals. The Blackhawks’ goals came in garbage time after a penalty put the Whaler’s a man down in the final two minutes.

Senior attacker Cosmo Tedeschi and sophomore attacker Cole Chambers had their fingerprints all over this victory. Tedeschi had five goals and an assist in the first half while Chambers, who was Nantucket’s leading scorer this season, was a playmaker and facilitator on this day, finishing with five first half assists and one goal.

“Cole did a great job and Bellingham’s faceoff kid was pretty good,” Aloisi said. “He has been like that all year. We had the ball the whole first quarter so our defense was rested and it allowed us to play well.”

Chambers finished with a team-high six assists. Senior attacker Camden Knapp had three goals. Senior attacker Hudson Perry, sophomore midfielder Jack Halik, and sophomore attacker Colby O’Keefe each had two goals. Senior midfielder Makai Bodden had one goal.

Senior goalie George Boucher wasn’t too busy in net but was solid when he was needed, finishing with six saves.

The Whalers will now move onto the Round of 16 and play the winner of #9 Littleton and #24 Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, which is taking place on Wednesday, June 8, at 6 p.m.

Check back in with the Nantucket Current for updates as they become available.