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Joe Natale raised his season's scoring total to 48 goals as Haverhill's boys lacrosse team snuck past Medford, 10-7. Natale notched five goals and added three assists, getting valuable help from Nick Vazquez' three goals and three assists.

Joe Natale raised his season's scoring total to 48 goals as Haverhill's boys lacrosse team snuck past Medford, 10-7. Natale notched five goals and added three assists, getting valuable help from Nick Vazquez' three goals and three assists.

Andrew Ouellette, whose previous career high was three goals, exploded for six as Central Catholic whipped Medford, 15-6. Shain Jowett (goal, 5 assists) also had six points and 11 ground balls.

Methuen's boys basketball team was firing up 3-pointers as usual (eight overall), but it was the Rangers' defense that stood out in a 69-54 victory. The Rangers held Medford to 15 points at halftime and then coasted in the second half. Mike Gorman led the offense with 25 points.

Methuen senior Matt Richardson had a huge game with 15 points and 19 rebounds as the Rangers downed Medford, 67-47. Making the feat all the more impressive is the fact that Richardson is a 6-2 guard, not the typical stature of rebound machine.

Sarah Oteri scored three times to lead Andover (1-1) to a 4-0 win over Medford. The Golden Warriors fired 56 shots at Medford while goalie Megan Petteruto only faced six from the Mustangs. Alica Nader assisted on all Andover goals.

NORTH ANDOVER — Zac Iovanella was given the keys to the offense and the Scarlet Knights jumped on board to assist him shift the gears. Facing a Medford team which plays in the Greater Boston League, which is three divisions above the Cape Ann League, the Knights tried Iovanella with all sorts of misdirection plays in the first half before finally coasting to a 27-18 victory. “We had a good week of practice in getting our techniques down,” emphasized wide receiver senior Christopher Buco. “Tonight was a wake-up call, especially in the second half, for what we can do.” The Knights welcomed back Iovanella from an ankle injury and he proclaimed himself 100 percent after the game. Head coach John Rafferty threw his star at the baffled Mustangs with slants and sweeps until winless Medford was forced to focus almost exclusively on the slippery back. Although Iovanella’s numbers (28 carries, 126 yards) were impressive enough, they don’t begin to show the effect he had on the game. “Iovanella reads on the go and is capable of going inside or outside,” said Rafferty. “He has a great first step.” There were noticeable contributions available by the rest of the offense as Medford scurried all over the field looking for Iovanelli. “ (Quarterback) Brandon Walsh has some good runs,” Rafferty noted, “and our kicker (Dylan Lurvey) is really improving in his first year kicking. That’s a luxury many other teams don’t have.” Lurvey hit 3 of 4 extra point kicks and added a 42-yard punt with no return. As for Walsh, Iovanella added, “Brandon will be great and he’s only a freshman.” The Knights play Staples of Westport, Conn., next week in North Andover. Staples has four class state titles in Connecticut. “Our biggest challenge is the defense knowing their assignments,” said Iovanella, “but I expect we can give them a game.”

The Panthers (7-1) rolled by Medford 12-2 behind five goals from Janie Cooper and a natural hat trick courtesy of Mary Accomando. Adding single goals for Beverly were Kate Williams, Alyssa Accomando, Brie Mari and Katie Von Zwek as a total team effort at both ends of the field sparked the win.

One might wonder what the Andover girls basketball team gained from last night's 61-32 first round Division 1 North rout of Medford.

After all, the Golden Warriors (19-3) zoomed to a commanding 26-5 lead in the first quarter, forcing 13 turnovers, and never had a problem with the Mustangs. After that, the starters only played in spurts and they were far from sharp in the second half as head coach Jim Tildsley substituted freely.

One game removed from what the Peabody High hockey team felt was one of their poorest performances, they responded with one of the program's best-ever victories last night.

After missing his team's first two games with a groin injury, junior left wing A.J. Parker had a hat trick as the Tanners scored four times in the third period to defeat host Medford, 7-4, at LoConte Rink.