The Marblehead High boys lacrosse team (6-0) is racking up wins while scoring goals at a proficient rate, showing signs of a club on a mission to not just repeat as Northeastern Conference champions but to be among the top squads when the Division 2 state tournament rolls around late next month.
The Magicians dominated visiting Peabody on April 17, 17-7, and then rival Danvers came to town two days later with pretty much the same results. The home team was in control of the action from beginning to end to cruise to another rather satisfying triumph, 16-3.
“It was vacation week, but everybody played well once again in both games,” coach John Wilkens said.
Senior Connor Cronin paced the offensive attack against the Tanners with six goals and three assists. Baxter Jennings accounted for three goals and one assist. Carter Laramie notched two goals and one assist.
Sophomore James Bickell tallied twice. His classmate Reece Moore chipped in with one goal and one assist, along with junior Gio Garibotto. Eddie Johns and Drew Nelson netted one marker apiece.
Goalie Finn Maniaci came up with 10 saves to do his part to preserve the unbeaten streak.
It was more of the same against the Falcons. Laramie was the scoring leader in this game with three goals and six assists. Moore was next in line with five goals and one assist.
Bickell came through with one goal and two assists. Cronin had three goals and two assists. Jennings contributed two goals and one assist to the winning cause. Nick Whitaker and Nelson each had one goal. Cam Waldman and Conor Murnane each picked up an assist.
The Marblehead boys led 13-1 at halftime.
Maniaci played just the first half in goal, and it was pretty much a day off for him with no shots on net. His understudy, freshman Finn Gallup, took over the goaltending chores in the second half and made seven saves.
Wilkens singled out the contributions of J.J. Pollander, Eliot Pluss, Sam Annese and Johns on defense. Their steady play in the first six games of the season provided solid reassurance for the two Finns in net.
After taking on host Masco in an always critical conference game on April 25, the Magicians return home on Thursday, April 27 to face the Salem Witches, starting at 4 p.m.
