Marauder Lacrosse Wins Big, Advance in Playoffs

On paper, the Belmont High School's boys' lacrosse appeared to have its hands full Wednesday afternoon, June 2.

The Shawsheen Valley Tech boys' lacrosse team entered Wednesday's MIAA Boys Lacrosse East Division 2 preliminary round game against Belmont at an impressive 16-2 overall and a perfect 12-0 in Commonwealth Athletic Conference league play.

Shawsheen, the No. 14 seed in the East Division 2 bracket, had outscored its regular season opponents 204-53 and had given up the fewest goals per game in the state, 2.94

In addition, Shawsheen was riding high on a seven-game win streak and was playing at home on its grass field. Belmont, the No. 19 seed, almost always plays and only practices on turf.

However, none of that mattered as the Marauders were out to avenge last season's tournament loss to Shawsheen and won handily, 13-4.

Belmont will travel to play Tri-Valley Conference champion and perennial contender, No. 3 seed Medfield (14-4) at 5 p.m., Friday, June 5.

"The kids were disappointed when they found out what seed we got," said Belmont coach Paul Graham, "but when they saw we were playing Shawsheen, they were thrilled."

Shawsheen knocked a shorthanded Belmont squad out of last year's state tournament with a 10-9 first-round win at the very same Cassidy Field.

This time, Belmont (12-5) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Senior co-captain Jasi Kubasek, who won 20 out of 21 face-offs on the day, won the opening draw and passed to co-captain Wylie Leabo. He gave it to attacker Kevin Sainte, who then found Dane Caracino for a goal 10 seconds in.

Kubasek won the ensuing face-off, which led to a Leabo goal off a Caracino assist, and Belmont was up 2-0 before Shawsheen gained possession of the ball. The Marauders scored on their first possession in the first, second and third quarters.

Belmont's "Mustard" defense, led by long-pole seniors Mike Wynott, who was knocked-out of last year's game, Matt Monohon and Mike DiCienzo, only allowed four shots on goalie Joe Mocera (two saves) in the first half. The defense earned its name because of the yellow pinnies the players wear in practice.

Leading 6-3 at halftime, Belmont scored four unanswered goals in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead. Monohon put an exclamation point on the scoring binge, flattening a Shawsheen attacker as the period ended.

The Marauders scored three to start the fourth, making it 13-3, before Shawsheen's Erik Dell'Anno added the final tally on a six-on-four power play.  

Caracino, a senior, had four goals and four assists in the game. Senior co-captain Nick Martone, recently named an All American, had four goals and an assist. Leabo had three goals, two assists, and junior Kevin Sainte had one goal and four assists. Kubasek added a goal, and sophomore Jack Egbert, an assist.