The Marblehead High boys lacrosse team recorded its 20th straight win this spring to remain perfect on the season after upending Milton (10-10), the 23rd seed, 16-8 in a Division 2 Round of 16 state tournament game at Piper Field on June 8.
The Magicians, the seventh seed, are scheduled to head to the Cape for a 4 p.m. Elite 8 game against host Nauset (17-3, second seed) Monday afternoon, June 12. The Warriors, who play in the Atlantic Coast League, defeated Silver Lake Regional (8-10, 18th seed) in its Sweet 16 game, 20-7. They also defeated Wakefield (7-13, 31st seed) in the Round of 32, 17-4 to begin the postseason.
After beating Boston Latin, 11-5, in the Round of 32, the Marblehead boys were comfortably in front of Milton by a 9-0 count at halftime last Thursday, June 8. But the Wildcats went on the attack to score four times in the third quarter, but the deficit was still six heading into the final period, 10-4.
Baxter Jennings, who was superb on the midfield face-offs, led his teammates on offense with six goals and two assists.
As his scholastic career is coming to a close, Connor Cronin, who was a critical factor in the football Magicians’ quest for procuring the program’s first-ever football title on the state level in 2021, made more history in this Sweet 16 game against the Wildcats by breaking the school’s all-time single-season scoring record.
Cronin was credited with one goal and five assists in the first half, and on his last assist to Jennings with just over two minutes left on the clock he had his 118th point, six better than Brooks Tyrrell, the previous record holder. He has now set a new standard for excellence for future Magicians to shoot for throughout the coming years.
But Cronin still wants to bring home to Marblehead another state championship, and he’s only three more wins away from getting that job done. His coach, John Wilkens, certainly won’t bet against it.
“(Cronin) sees a lot of things out there on the field that many don’t see,” the coach said, “which goes to show that he has a lot of lacrosse IQ.
“He obviously has had a fantastic season so far,” added Wilkens. “He’s just a workhorse at both ends of the field that makes him a true, competitive leader for us.”
Cam Waldman was also one of the leading offensive contributors with three goals and two assists. Gio Garibotto, Carter Laramie and Charlie Grenier chipped in with two goals apiece against Milton. Grenier also had one assist. Eliot Pluss setup one score, as well.
Maniaci was sharp once again in goal making 15 saves in the game, and at least a couple of those stops were from point blank range in the first half.
