Boys' Lacrosse Dancing for First Time

The boys’ lacrosse team clinched its first ever postseason berth Saturday with an 8-4 win over visiting Haverhill.

The team’s new found success this season has been a few years in the making, according to coach Ken Blaszka.

“Three years ago, after graduating a lot of seniors, we decided to invest in our younger players,” he said, “and now we have a solid core of juniors and seniors.”

On Saturday, the Tanners sealed their tournament hopes behind a 6-1 first half that featured five different goal scorers.

Brendan Gilgun got the Tanners going with a tough-angle shot off a pass from John Tobin four minutes into the game. Teammate Robby Mistretta then took the ball to the net for a goal less than a minute later, as Woburn went up 2-0 early.

Later in the first quarter, Adam Tanner scored off a Gilgun assist to make it 3-0. Haverhill would score late in the first to pull back within two, at 3-1.

In the second quarter, Casey Shea, Mistretta and Tobin netted three consecutive goals, as Woburn took command with a 6-1 lead at the break.

After a Haverhill goal less than 30 seconds into the second half, Tanner came back with a goal less than a minute later to end any potential rally.

Gilgun added his second goal in the fourth, as Haverhill (5-10) never got closer than four goals down in the second half.

Woburn (9-7) ends the regular season with two non-league opponents, Mystic Valley at home Monday and Wilmington on the road Wednesday.

“Those are going to be really big games for us,” Blaszka said.