WESTFIELD – If fairly recent success against the Longmeadow High School boys’ lacrosse team has not put the Lancers on notice, the first game of the 2016 postseason will likely draw their attention.
No. 7 Westfield trounced 10th seeded Pittsfield 18-4 in the opening round of the Central/West Division 2 tournament Tuesday at home. The Bombers (14-5) move on to face second-seeded Longmeadow (15-5) in the quarterfinals. Date and time to be determined.
Tuesday’s tourney opener was over before it even began.
Westfield’s Chris Ward, center, finds a crease in the heart of the Pittsfield defense for a shot. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Westfield averaged nearly a goal a minute through the first nine minutes of the game to take a 9-0 lead. Pittsfield finally scored its first goal of the game with 3:25 remaining in the first quarter. The Bombers responded with another goal before the quarter was out.
“We scored some goals, but frankly, we have to get a lot better before Longmeadow,” Westfield coach Mark Cavallon said. “I don’t think, goals aside, our passing and our crispness as far as executing was not as good as we like. I know the score looks really impressive when you see 10-1 but there’s definitely room for improvement.”
Matt Bonsall (1 assist) and Anthony Sullivan finished with four goals apiece to lead Westfield. Bombers’ Matt Chlastawa and Mason Balch had two goals and four assists apiece.
The Westfield head coach said he expects an even more determined effort if his team is to overcome a traditionally tough Longmeadow squad.
“When we played (Longmeadow) on this field it was a great defensive battle,” coach Cavallon said. “They had a three-goal run in the fourth to pull away. And on their field, it was 7-4 at halftime, they had a 7-0 run in the third and we couldn’t stop the bleeding.”
“You have to beat the best to keep moving on,” he continued. “In our eyes they and Minnechaug are the best so we have to certainly practice hard.
The Westfield High School defense rises to the occasion against the East Longmeadow Spartans in a high school boys’ volleyball quarterfinal Tuesday. The Bombers advanced to Thursday’s semifinal at home against the West Springfield Terriers. First serve will occur shortly after 6 p.m. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“Everything has to work well. Our defense has to execute at a high level, our offense has to possess the ball, we have to win faceoffs, goalies have to make some saves, but we’re going to be working hard to attain those things.”
WEST DIVISION 1 BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
Bombers sweep, swoop into semis
No. 1 Westfield def. East Longmeadow, 25-11, 25-12, 25-12
Eddie Loboda (11 kills), Noah Kappel (7 kills), Ryan Murray (6 kills), Scott Walsh (27 assists), and Andrew Burrage (16 digs, 3 aces) fueled Westfield’s tournament opening sweep of visiting ninth-seeded East Longmeadow.
Westfield (16-3) advances to take on fourth-seeded West Springfield (14-5) in a semifinal match Thursday at the Bomb Squad’s home gym at 6:30 p.m.
