Sports Roundup: Boys & Girls Lax Advance To Sweet 16
David Creed •
This Whaler sports roundup includes an update on the boys and girls lacrosse teams after both programs earned convincing victories to kick off their state tournament runs. There is also an update on the boys tennis team and tournament information on the girls tennis team's next game.
Boys, Girls Lax Move On To Face Familiar Foes
The Nantucket boys and girls lacrosse teams won convincingly in their Round of 32 matchups to advance to their respective Sweet 16s, where both programs will be facing teams they are quite familiar with.
The boys lacrosse team led 4-1 after one quarter and exploded for six straight goals in the second quarter to take a 10-1 lead into halftime. They won the game 14-2 over #29 Lenox Memorial High School and junior midfielder Arann Hanlon led the Whaler's offensively with five goals and an assist.
"The first quarter was okay. I think we hit three pipes," Nantucket head coach Sam Aloisi said. "We tried to do too much individual stuff in the first quarter, and then in the second quarter we scored six in the second because they just made the easy play. They were just trying to do too much individual things in the first quarter, and then we kind of calmed down, they started playing as a team, and you saw what happened. Our defense wasn't really tested, maybe one or two times. That first goal was just kind of a freak fast break. I don't think that kid even knew he shot it.”
The girls lacrosse team won 15-4 over #25 Wahconah High School and it was a total team effort offensively after a sluggish first few minutes of the game in a similar fashion to the boys earlier in the day. The Whaler’s offense moved the ball beautifully for most of the game however and when they’re in that kind of rhythm, are an extremely difficult team to cover with several offensive threats.
Nantucket had four players with two or more goals and seven goal scorers altogether with Mayson Lower (four goals), Maddie Lombardi (three goals), and Louisa Beni (three goals) leading the way. Grace Hanlon led the team with three assists.
"I think the nerves got the best of us there for a little bit, but they were able to kind of come back and did okay," Whaler head coach Jami Lower said. "In the beginning, they were so concerned about shooting before they got the ball in their stick, and they were so focused on passing that no one was going to net. We were just moving the ball. We held possession for most of the game I feel like.
“On defense I was really proud of the way that they were working the restraining line,” Lower continued. “Myah (Johnson), she's like a vacuum cleaner down there. She gets any groundball. I thought fastbreaks were a little bit of a problem for us. I think that comes from a game where your defense can kind of fall asleep a little bit, and then all of a sudden when they're tested, it's hard to stay in the game. I think they did pretty well. Sophia Sullivan had a really, really strong game. I thought she had a lot of caused turnovers right at the restraining line, a lot of groundballs.”
Up next, the #4 ranked boys lacrosse team will host the #13 ranked Sandwich Blue Knights in what will be a rematch of last year’s Division 4 MIAA Boys Lacrosse State Championship, which Nantucket won 7-6 at Barnstable High School on June 15th, 2024. The rematch will be on Thursday, June 5th at 4 p.m.
"They graduated a lot (of players) and so did we," Aloisi said. "So obviously it's a new year, but they got that kid (Cole) Rodgers back and he is very good, and his brother who is a long stick middie. That's the keys to their team those two guys. So we got to contain (Cole Rodgers). If we contain him and play like we can play, we should be all right.”
The girls team will host #9 Manchester Essex, who knocked Nantucket out in back to back seasons - including the 2022 state semifinal. Their game will be on Wednesday, June 4th at 4 p.m.
"I mean we've lost to them once in the Final Four and then once in the next year in the round of eight," Lower said. "They have a top-notch goalie. She's been All-American since her freshman year and she's going to UNC, so I think we've got to work on our shooting. This will be huge test.”
Boys Tennis Season Comes To An End
The boys tennis team’s season came to an end Monday afternoon following a 5-0 loss to #2 Lynnfield on the road. The Whaler’s, ranked #18, were able to secure a round one upset over #15 Rockland prior to Monday’s defeat. They finished the regular season with a 5-10 record and finished with a 6-11 record overall.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AHEAD:
Wednesday, June 4th:
The girls tennis team, ranked #8 in the Division 4 bracket, will host #24 Advanced Math & Science Academy at 4 p.m.
The girls lacrosse team, ranked #8 in the Division 4 bracket, will host #9 Manchester-Essex High School at 4 p.m.
Thursday, June 5th:
The boys lacrosse team, ranked #4 in the Division 4 bracket, will host the #13 seeded Sandwich Blue Knights at 4 p.m.
Nantucket Athletic Director Travis Lombardi said that all tickets need to be purchased online, which you can do for both the boys lacrosse game and the girls lacrosse game here.
No tickets need to be purchased for the girls tennis match.