Westfield goalie Aaron Hooben (22) reaches up to snag a ball Monday against Longmeadow. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – Merriam-Webster describes a juggernaut as “a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement or object that crushes whatever is in its path.”
After witnessing that juggernaut in person, the Westfield Bombers boys lacrosse team would likely not argue whether or not the Longmeadow Lancers deserve that moniker.
Richie Joseph had a hand in 14 scores (4 goals, 10 assists), Dom Veratti scored six goals, Coleson Hanrahan tallied five, and Finley Morin and Luke Szyluk each collected four as Longmeadow rolled to a 25-6 win over Westfield Monday.
“We’ve played four Western Mass teams that we can match up with athletically; Longmeadow is on a different level,” Westfield High School boys lacrosse coach Mark Cavallon explained.
Prior to Monday’s contest, Longmeadow had beaten Xaverian, Northampton, Minnechaug, South Hadley and Pope Francis by a combined score of 112-23. The Lancers only loss of the 2021 season came against Division 1 powerhouse Lincoln-Sudbury, 11-6.
Cavallon said that Longmeadow’s “combination of stick skills, athleticism … how aggressive they are on defense – – they’re pressing you far outside the box” is what sets them apart from the rest of the field.
That elite level of play was on display from start to finish.
Longmeadow won the opening faceoff and scored eight seconds into the game. Shortly thereafter, Cam Theriault scored a game-tying goal for Westfield. The Lancers responded with two quick goals to go up 3-1.
“The first couple goals were bing-bing-bing,” coach Cavallon said.
Westfield stayed close for a brief moment when Andrew Dion unleashed a wicked shot from the left wing that found the back of the net with 9:34 remaining in the quarter. The Bombers pulled to within 3-2. It was the closest they would get the rest of the way.
Longmeadow unleashed a furious attack that resulted in a 13-0 run. The Lancers led 15-2 until Race Kiniry scored for Westfield with 2:38 left in the first half.
Longmeadow scored twice more over the next couple minutes to go into the half with an overwhelming 17-3 lead.
Longmeadow’s first goal of the second half typified just how athletically gifted some of the Lancers players are when Szyluk made an ankle-breaking stutter-step move that froze his defender before scoring in traffic.
Still, Westfield managed to keep Longmeadow to just eight second-half goals after the Lancers netted 17 in the first half. The Bombers matched their first half effort with three goals over the final two quarters.
“Even though we got bumped, there were some things we can take away from this that we improved upon today,” coach Cavallon said. “As the game went along, I thought we did a better job both up top with the midfielders and the close defensemen of playing man-to-man defense so we didn’t get beat as often, recognizing our slides quicker and getting there so that they didn’t get an easy shot.”
Under pressure all evening, Westfield goalie Aaron Hooben finished with 43 saves.
SOFTBALL
Saints hold off Tigers
St. Mary’s 8, Westfield Technical Academy 7
St. Mary’s scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to escape the clutches of Westfield Technical Academy at Sadie Knox.
Audrey Burke led off the home half of the sixth with a triple and stole home. Paige Hutkoski doubled and scored on an Anita Bialis long single.
Burke pitched six innings, striking out three batters before turning the ball over to the bullpen. Hutkoski closed out the seventh.
Westfield Tech made it interesting. Tigers’ Allyssa Slack singled, and then stole second and third bases before stealing home. Hutkoski struck out three straight batters to end the game.
St. Mary’s entered Monday’s game, fresh off a 34-0 drubbing of Renaissance Friday. In that contest, Allie Goodreau (6 RBIs), Hutkoski (4), Lauren Campbell (3), Emma Bialis (2) and Burke (2) led the offense, while Lilly Nadler and Kiera Lamirande combined for two strikeouts and four walks on the mound for the Saints.
BASEBALL
Strange records 10 Ks in Bombers victory
Westfield 4, Longmeadow 3
Brian Strange scattered six hits and three runs over seven full innings on the mound for Westfield. He struck out 10 batters.
Bombers’ Alex LaCourse went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Brennan Jarvis had a double and run scored.
GIRLS TENNIS
Bulldogs nip Saints
Sabis 3, St. Mary’s 2
St. Mary’s Catherine Seklecki won at third singles, 6-2, 6-1. Saints’ doubles pair, Jessica Armstrong and Eliana Uma Kimara won at first doubles, 6-2, 6-1.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
West Springfield def. Southwick 25-21, 25-14, 25-13
Grayson Poole (22 assists), Mason Imbriglio (19 digs), and Rylan Secovich (8 kills) led Southwick.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Drugan, Krawiec win two events to pace Bombers
Westfield 65, Central 57
Shea Drugan and Nicholas Krawiec won two events apiece to lead Westfield to victory. Drugan finished first in the 100 meters (10.6) and 200 meters (22.6). Krawiec placed first in the 800 meters (2:33.1) and mile (N/A).
Other first-place Bombers finishers included: Ziyad Ghalayini (110 hurdles, 18.6), William Hennessey (2 mile, 15:21.22), Noah Delgado (400 hurdles, 1:19.1), and Nichita Solopa (400 meters, 58.4).
– – –
2021 High School Spring Sports Standings
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield 4-1
Southwick 5-1
BASEBALL
Westfield 3-1
Westfield Technical Academy 4-2
St. Mary’s 0-1
Southwick 2-2
SOFTBALL
Westfield 4-1
Westfield Technical Academy 2-4
St. Mary’s 4-1
Southwick 4-0
GIRLS LACROSSE
Westfield 3-0
St. Mary’s 3-1
BOYS LACROSSE
Westfield 3-2
St. Mary’s 3-2
WRESTLING
Westfield 1-0
GIRLS TENNIS
Westfield 2-1
St. Mary’s 3-1
BOYS TENNIS
Westfield 1-1
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 3-0
Southwick 1-0
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 0-1
Monday’s Results
SOFTBALL
St. Mary’s 8, Westfield Technical Academy 6
BOYS LACROSSE
Longmeadow 25, Westfield 6
BASEBALL
Westfield 4, Longmeadow 3
GIRLS TENNIS
Sabis 3, St. Mary’s 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
West Springfield 3, Southwick 0
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 65, Central 57
—
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Tues., May 25
SOFTBALL @ Minnechaug, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Granby, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Holyoke, Crosier Field and Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sabis, 5 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL @ Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. South Hadley, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Saint John’s, 6 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BOYS LACROSSE @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL vs. West Springfield, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ West Springfield, 5 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Minnechaug, 5:30 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL @ East Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Hampshire, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS/GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Ludlow, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. East Longmeadow, 3 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Chicopee Comp, 5:15 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ East Longmeadow, 7 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Agawam, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL vs. Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Agawam, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pope Francis, 3 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Ludlow, 5 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Northampton, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
BOYS/GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Holyoke, Roberts Sports Complex, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Chicopee, Szot Park, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Minnechaug, 5 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL @ Longmeadow, Russell Field, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ West Springfield, Mittineague Park, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. West Springfield, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS LACROSSE vs. South Hadley, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Agawam, 6:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 14
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Agawam, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Northampton, Smith Vocational H.S., 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Milford, 5:15 p.m.
Tues., June 15
SOFTBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.
—–
WESTFIELD TECHNICAL ACADEMY
Tues., May 25
BASEBALL vs. Gateway, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL vs. Belchertown, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
SOFTBALL vs. Gateway, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL @ McCann Tech, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL @ Pathfinder, St. Joe’s, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Pathfinder, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL vs. Franklin Tech, Jachym Field, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL vs. St. Mary’s, Bullens Field, 3:15 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Smith Vocational and Agricultural, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Smith Vocational and Agricultural, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
No Sports Scheduled
Thurs., June 10
No Sports Scheduled
—–
ST. MARY’S
Tues., May 25
BOYS LACROSSE @ Monson, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Chicopee, 5 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL @ Southwick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Belchertown, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Hampden Charter School of Science, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Commerce, Marshall Roy Field, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
SOFTBALL @ Hampden Charter School of Science, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Chicopee, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Greenfield, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL vs. Palmer, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BOYS TENNIS @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BOYS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL @ Monson, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Sci-Tech, Blunt Park (Diamond #5), 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Pathfinder, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Pope Francis, 6 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL vs. Ware, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Central, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m
Thurs., June 3
BASEBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Renaissance, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Central, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Monson, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL @ Westfield Technical Academy, Bullens Field, 3:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Chicopee Comp, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Palmer, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Sabis, Nathan Bill, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Commerce, Sadie Knox, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Holyoke Canoe & Tennis Club, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Monson, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL vs. Hampshire, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Granby, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS LACROSSE vs. McCann Tech, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Belchertown, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Sabis, Forest Park, 4 p.m.
BASEBALL vs. Ware, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 14
BOYS LACROSSE @ McCann Tech, 4 p.m.
—–
SOUTHWICK REGIONAL
Tues., May 25
SOFTBALL @ Monson, Quarry Hill Community School, 4 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL vs. St. Mary’s, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sci-Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD @ Belchertown, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD vs. Belchertown, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD @ Monson, Moriarty Field/Granite Valley School, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD vs. Monson, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL @ Monson, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Ware, 5:15 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., June 4
BASEBALL vs. Palmer, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Central, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Commerce, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 7
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Ware, 5:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Hopkins Academy, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Holyoke, 5:15 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD vs. Palmer, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL vs. Sabis, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sabis, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 15
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Athol, 5:15 p.m.
GATEWAY REGIONAL
Tues., May 25
BASEBALL @ Westfield Technical Academy, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Franklin Tech, 4 p.m.
Wed., May 26
No Sports Scheduled
Thurs., May 27
BASEBALL vs. Smith Vocational and Agricultural, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Westfield Technical Academy, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.
Fri., May 28
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL @ McCann Tech, Joe Wolfe Baseball Field, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
SOFTBALL @ Pathfinder, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
BASEBALL vs. Pathfinder, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Smith Vocational and Agricultural, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Franklin Tech, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Pathfinder, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
No Sports Scheduled
Thurs., June 10
No Sports Scheduled
