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Haverhill Boys Lacrosse Preview

2007 record: 11-8, lost Division 1 East preliminaries

Returning starters (8): Cody Skinner, Sr., goalie; Tom Murray, Sr., attack; Nick Vazquez, Jr., attack; Joe Natale, Jr., attack; Kevin Woodman, Sr., midfield; Ryan Gauthier, Jr., midfield; Kyle Burke, Jr., defense; Troy Warcewicz, Sr., midfield

Returning lettermen: Tim Fitts, Sr., defense; Dan Ferrachi, Sr., midfield

Newcomers: Casey Sweeney, Frosh., attack; Parker Laamare, Soph., goalie; Kyle Sullivan, Soph., defense; Alex Aguirre, Jr., defense; Evan Pare, Jr., midfield; Tyler Nauffts, Soph., midfield

Candidates in all grades: 41

Captains: Joe Natale, Nick Vazquez, Kyle Burke

Returning leaders: Nick Vazquez 25-7|32; Tom Murray 11-6|17; Joe Natale 9-7|16

Returning honorees: Nick Vazquez, MVC All-Star

Assistants: Jay White, Pete Smyth; Gavin Evans, JV

Opener: at Central Catholic April 4

Odds and ends: New coach Bryan Brazill is a former Merrimack College standout (Class of 2005) and assistant coach who owns and operates Home Grown Lacrosse in North Andover. He takes over for Chris Laganas, who had a 37-38 record in four years. ... Returning goalie Cody Skinner broke his thumb on the first day of practice and will miss the first game. Capable sophomore Parker Laamare will fill in. ... Haverhill looked promising in a 7-5 scrimmage loss to powerful Acton-Boxboro. ... Nick Vazquez leads the returnees with 25 goals as a sophomore, but Brazill believes he'll get better balance this year. He is expecting big years from midfielders Kevin Woodman and Ryan Gauthier. ... Brian Ward, who shined as a freshman, has transferred to Governor's Academy.

Coach Bryan Brazill (1st year): "I don't want to make any predictions, but I think we have a strong returning class, with a lot of talent. I think we'll be OK on offense and defense. My only real concern is with lack of numbers | our depth. I've got some unbelievable workers."