When you have the type of offensive firepower that Walpole High boys lacrosse team possesses, it’s easy to get caught up in the amount of goals the Rebels score. But with the way the Walpole defense has prevented goals this year may be even more impressive.
With Friday's 17-8 win over St. John’s of Shrewsbury, the Rebels went the entire season without allowing an opponent to reach double figures, a run of 25 games.
“Stay on their hands and just play our game,” said Walpole senior captain Michael Connors of how they approached the Pioneers. “We have been playing great as unit all year and our goalie (Brian Merrigan) has been playing amazing all year and he had another great game.”
Connors and juniors Peter Bowes and Connor Whittemore make up the trio of long sticks in front of Merrigan. With a pair of future Division 1 players as a buffer in Connors (Vermont) and Bowes (Loyola), Merrigan often isn’t tested that much, but has a knack for the big stops, making six against the Pioneers.
St. John’s came in averaging over 13 goals per game in the tournament, but left frustrated as the latest victim of a squad that allowed just 35 in their six postseason wins. Half of the Pioneers goals came on man-up situations.
“When we were 6-on-6, lights out,” said Walpole coach Jason Andalo. “We had our matchups, we wanted Pete on (Colin) O’Rourke. We wanted Michael on (Eric Proos). Six-on-six we played just the way we wanted to do it and that’s what we were hoping for.”
Fittingly, the defense got a chance to get in the act on the offensive end as both Connors and Bowes rocketed in goals in the final. The guys up front appreciate the dirty work done in the back.
“Our offense is powerful, but I think it really starts with our defense,” said senior midfielder Leo Ajemian. “They get so many takeaways it gives us more chances. You have to credit the whole team.”
Most high school athletes never get to experience the thrill of a state title. For a lucky 13 Rebels, Saturday marked the second time they hoisted an MIAA state championship trophy this school year.
Seniors Connors, Ajemian, T.J. Kelliher and Jeff Collins, juniors Bowes, Whittemore, Ryan Izzo, Michael Milien and Nick Romaine, and sophomores Nick Foley, Ross Perham and Chris Norberg all began their year with an unbeaten football season that culminated in a Division 2 Super Bowl win over Mansfield at Gillette Stadium in December.
“It’s a great feeling winning two state championships,” said Ajemian. “Not many get the chance to do that and say that they have done it.”
Combined the two teams posted a 37-1 record and provided magnificent bookends to the year for the Rebels.
“Obviously winning two state championships in a year is an awesome feeling for anybody and to experience it is just phenomenal,” said Izzo. “For all the guys that have been on the football team and this team, just props to everybody. It was a team effort all throughout the season and it was an excellent final game.”
Butts, Walpole’s all-time leading scorer, finished two points shy of the 300-point plateau, finishing his career with 187 goals and 111 assists. … The Rebels finished the year with 377 goals (just over 15 per contest), smashing the school record set last year by 88. … With the win, the Rebels took over the top spot in laxpower.com’s final state rankings. … Izzo, who is better know for his exploits as a running back on the football field, left the possibility of playing both football and lacrosse in college open after the game. He reports his top choices for football are currently UConn, UMass, UNH and Richmond.
(Staff Writer Keith Pearson contributed to this report)
