Westfield and Shrewsbury battled in the WMASS/CMASS D2 boys’ lacrosse championship at Foley Stadium in Worcester. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WORCESTER – Earlier, last week, Westfield High School boys’ lacrosse coach Mark Cavallon said that – no matter what – the Bombers were the Western Massachusetts Division 2 champions.
While there would be no trophy for Westfield, the Bombers proved they were no fluke.
Third-seeded Shrewsbury outlasted No. 4 Westfield, winning in double sudden victory 9-8 of the Western/Central Massachusetts Division 2 boys’ lacrosse championship Saturday night at Foley Stadium in Worcester.
Westfield (17-4), who posting a stunning upset of Longmeadow in the semifinals (only the third such victory over its rivals in some three decades), did not lose. Let met repeat that – Westfield did not lose. Shrewsbury (20-4) won it.
Westfield’s Sam Scarfo (21) carries the ball. (Photo by Chris Putz)
With 3:20 remaining in the second four-minute, sudden-victory period, Joe Buduo (3 saves) slung a sidearm shot through a wall of Westfield defenders and past Bombers’ goalie Jake Cupak for the game-winner.
“It came down to one play – they ended up getting it,” Westfield coach Mark Cavallon said of Shrewsbury’s stroke of good fortune. “The game was about as even as it could get … We are still champions in my eyes.”
Westfield knocked off Longmeadow for the first time in five years, and only the second time since 1995, a year in which the Bombers ended a 30-year winless drought against their rivals.
Had the tournament just included Western Mass teams like in year’s past, Westfield would likely don the crown. Still, Cavallon said a banner would adorn the gymnasium, recognizing walls of their huge accomplishment.
“We were firing on all cylinders … Props to them for coming back,” said Westfield’s Sam Scarfo, who finished with a team-leading four goals in the finals. Scarfo scored the game’s first two goals. “It just came down to the final play.”
Westfield won the first quarter 2-0 with goals from Scarfo 1:01 into the game, and with 1:41 remaining in the first quarter. The Bombers raced out to a 3-0 lead (early second quarter) and even had Shrewsbury doubled up at the half 4-2. Both teams exchanged goals in the second quarter as the Colonials appeared to wake from their slumber.
Anthony Sullivan made it 3-0 when he scored with 6:52 left in the half. Alexander Chin cracked the Shrewsbury goose egg, poaching the team’s first goal with 6:07 remaining. Sullivan tallied a goal off a rebound with 4:39 left, and Chin scored again with 3:57 remaining.
Shrewsbury pulled within one goal early in the second half, notching a score 53 seconds in. Luke Chlastawa reclaimed a two-goal advantage for Westfield two minutes later.
Westfield’s Rashaun Rivers, right, stands alongside teammates for the National Anthem at Saturday’s WMASS/CMASS Division 2 boys’ lacrosse championship at Foley Stadium in Worcester. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Shrewsbury would not falter.
At the 8:33 and 6:59 marks of the third quarter, Shrewsbury scored to even the game at 5-5. Another goal with 6:01 remaining gave the Colonials their first lead, 6-5.
Then it was Westfield’s turn.
With 4:59 left in the third quarter, Rashaun Rivers bounced a goal in from about 25 yards out. Scarfo tallied another to put the Bombers back on top 7-6 with 3:40 left.
Shrewsbury and Westfield traded goals in the final two minutes of the quarter with the Colonials scoring at the 1:49 and 50-second marks. Scarfo notched a goal with 1:32 left.
Shrewsbury tied the game 8-all in the final seconds of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter proved to be a tug-of-war with both sides refusing to budge. The first sudden victory period featured much of the same.
Cupak came up with several key saves, especially late in regulation. He finished with 14 saves.
