RallyNorth.net

Gendreau comfortable scoring goals all over the North Shore

Tuesday, May, 13 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

Ryan Gendreau's lacrosse career has been a virtual ping-pong match of stops on the North Shore.

A Danvers resident, Gendreau began playing lacrosse as a third grader in the Peabody Youth Lacrosse League because Danvers didn't have a program at the time. He continued playing at the Glen Urquhart School in Beverly while in junior high, and has been a contributing member of the Hamilton-Wenham varsity team since his freshman year of high school | despite still living in Danvers.

"I visited Hamilton-Wenham when I was at the Glen Urquhart School and really liked it. It seemed small and I like the people there," Gendreau said. "There are also 6-7 other kids from (Glen Urquhart) that go there now."

He doesn't think much about his unusual path to playing lax for the Generals. But Gendreau is sure this team has what it takes to make a run in the Division 3 East tournament this spring.

Gendreau scored his 100th career goal earlier this spring, and was a major contributor on the Generals' team that went 19-2 and advanced to the East semifinals two years ago.

He started with 11 points as a freshman, boosted that total to 47 as a sophomore, scored 57 last year and already stands at 53 right now.

The lessons learned in both his sophomore and junior seasons will definitely help Gendreau lead the Generals into the state tournament.

"It was incredible two years ago; we won 19 straight games. Teams rarely do that," Gendreau said. "Last year we were 10-10 because we lost our starting defense and a lot of senior leadership. It was a tough year, but we got through it."

Hamilton-Wenham is currently 9-5, with all losses coming to highly-thought-of teams. They include setbacks against Malden Catholic (8-6), North Andover twice (10-6 and 8-7 in overtime), and Masconomet twice (13-9 and 5-1). Blemishes like that | while they don't look good on a record | will only help in the postseason.

Gendreau's scoring ability will also help the Generals put teams away when it's win-or-go-home time.

There's no questioning Gendreau's ability to put the ball in the net, but he's also a student of the game.

"I would say my intelligence (is my best attribute). The more I play, the smarter I get at reading defenders and goalies," Gendreau said. "Year in and year out you pick up on stuff that kids like to do and their tendencies, especially goalies. Some goalies are good on low or high shots; others are good on bouncing shots."

In order to hit another spot on the North Shore map, Gendreau will take his lacrosse talents to Salem State this fall. There's little doubt that he'll make an immediate impact for the Vikings.

"I had originally wanted to go to Endicott," Gendreau, 18, said, "but Salem State was more affordable, and staying close to home will be nice."

Gendreau is not the only General who will be wearing the Viking gear next year. Hamilton-Wenham's other scoring standout Jake Cotter will join Gendreau in Salem State's lineup.

"They'll be impact players right away," Hamilton-Wenham coach Jim LaSelva said. "Jake and Ryan could actually play a big role right away. They're our one-two punch, but I'm not going to say who's one or two."

Hamilton-Wenham has four games remaining, including one against Ipswich and one against Austin Prep which should act as a good barometer for the Division 3 tournament. Looking down the road, LaSelva also figures Cohasset, Scituate, and Dover-Sherborn are contenders in Div. 3.