RallyNorth.net

Andover Golden Warriors Boys Lacrosse '18

Tue, Jun 12, 2018 04:30 PM @ Chelmsford
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Andover 5 2 4 3 14
Chelmsford 0 1 5 1 7

Mitchell, Andover cruise to North Final in convincing fashion

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Tuesday, June, 12 By Kyle Gaudette

CHELMSFORD - It's all finally coming together for Andover boys lacrosse. It had to at some point, right?

You don't load your non-conference schedule with the likes of perennial powers Pinkerton, Lincoln-Sudbury, Concord-Carlisle, Reading and Dover-Sherborn and expect your team not to eventually rise up to the competition level.

But, even after Tuesday's 14-7 domination of No. 4 Chelmsford - on Chelmsford's home turf - in the Division 1 North semifinals, the eighth-seeded Warriors still can't help but be a little bit taken aback by the recent playoff success.

"I honestly didn't think we would get here at the beginning of the year," said senior Greysen Mithcell, who scored three goals and had five assists in the win.

An honest answer for sure. But, in all honesty, Andover seems to be playing its best lacrosse at the right time.

Last Saturday, the Warriors (13-8) took down top-seeded North Andover on the road, and yesterday Mitchell scored 22 seconds into a game they never trailed to advance to Friday's North Final against No. 3 Acton-Boxboro (5 p.m., at Concord-Carlisle High).

In fact, Andover dominated its way to a 5-0 lead after the first quarter and a 7-1 lead at the half behind patient, balanced offense and a smothering defense. While, mathematically, the game was certainly not over at this point, Mithcell's goal 22 seconds into the game sucked the life right out of Chelmsford (15-6).

The Lions made their runs at a comeback, sure, most notably when they scored twice to start the third quarter to make it a 7-3 game. But Andover always looked like the more physical, focused, composed and faster team on the field.

Case in point, Andover's fourth goal of the game happened when Mitchell barreled his way through two defenders before ripping a shot into the net while getting pushed to the ground from behind.

Nothing was stopping the Warriors.

"We're super pumped," said Mitchell. "This is something we've been working for all year. We've come up short in big games in the past, but when we're in the playoffs we just want to keep winning."

And after the game, it's not that coach Wayne Puglisi didn't recognize his team out there. He just didn't know what to say after that performance.

"I'm speechless right now," said Puglisi. "I really don't know what to say. We're going to the finals! I can't believe it!

"We've had such a difficult schedule all season long that I think the teams that we've played, the Pinkerton's the Seton Hall Prep's, the Lincoln-Sudbury's, the Concord-Carlisle's, all those teams out of league, and even counting the Billerica's, the Chelmsford's, the North Andover's, that have all prepared us for these types of moments.

"Could I equate that to a six-goal start or whatever it was today? I don't think so. We just played well."

Even though Mitchell had the big day, he was hardly the only Warrior doing damage.

Sager Florio and Alex Trottier also had hat-tricks, and Bret Miller scored twice. And defensively, Donald Alois, Matt Belluche, Kevin Flowers, and John Marshall all made sure that goalie CJ Puglisi (9 saves) wasn't feeling the heat in net.

So what's the key for Andover moving forward?

"I think we just need to keep playing the way we've been in the playoffs," said Mitchell. "We've played with a lot of energy and a lot of spirit, and we've played our offense and played our defense. We've got all of our systems working."

 

UP NEXT

Division 1 North Final

Who: No. 8 Andover (13-8) vs. No. 3 Acton-Boxboro (14-7)

When: Friday, 5 p.m.

Where: Concord-Carlisle High

Fast Fact: Acton-Boxboro took down three-time defending Division 1 EMass champion Lincoln-Sudbury in Tuesday's other semifinal matchup (7-6, OT).

 

Andover 14, Chelmsford 7

Division 1 North Semifinals

Goals: Greysen Mitchell 3, Alex Trottier 3, Sager Florio 3, Bret Miller 2, Colby Agostino, Joe Hoar, Mike Leone; C - Christian Gastonguay 4, Kullen Stone, Benjamin Gastonguay, Sal Lupoli

Saves: A - CJ Puglisi 9, Jeremy Morgenstern 1; C - Thomas Hopkins 8

Andover (13-8):     5 2 4 3 - 14

Chelmsford (15-6):     0 1 5 1 -  7

 

Game Statistics:

Division 1 North Semifinals

Goals: Greysen Mitchell 3, Alex Trottier 3, Sager Florio 3, Bret Miller 2, Colby Agostino, Joe Hoar, Mike Leone; C — Christian Gastonguay 4, Kullen Stone, Benjamin Gastonguay, Sal Lupoli

Saves: A — CJ Puglisi 9, Jeremy Morgenstern 1; C — Thomas Hopkins 8

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