BURLINGTON — If there ever was a time for Reading to seize a state lacrosse title, it was this spring, the place the proper assortment of expertise and training all got here collectively for one prolonged playoff run. On Sunday, they accomplished their dream season in one of the simplest ways possible.
Senior Robbie Granara led his workforce with a pair of targets, as top-seeded Reading captured its first Div. 2 title since 2018 with a 9-4 victory over No. 3 Duxbury at Burlington High School.
“It feels wonderful,” Granara stated afterward. “I mean, we’ve been working for this moment for 13 years now. The same group. The same crew of (athletes). We’ve been best friends since we were little kids. Just feels unbelievable to finally get to this moment.”
Reading (22-1) entered the sport lacking key contributors comparable to senior attackmen Ethan Haggerty (damaged wrist) and Jack Jaynes (damaged jaw)— an issue since Duxbur is likely one of the state’s premier defensive squads. Granara opted to put on Haggerty’s jersey No. 22 with hopes of discovering inspiration. The transfer paid dividends, because the senior sniped the sport’s opening aim with 4:57 to play within the first, and Reading was simply getting began.
“I just knew that we started what we were going to finish,” Granara stated. “I knew that was the beginning to the grand finale.”
Granara netted his second aim with 29 seconds remaining within the first half, as Reading took a 4-0 lead into the break. The Rockets would tack on two extra targets to begin the third quarter off pictures from Cullen Granara and Aidan Koster to leap forward 6-0, earlier than the Dragons obtained on the board with a aim from Samuel Wien with 9:20 left.
“We knew that they double-teamed quickly,” stated Reading coach Charles Hardy. “They wanted to pass the ball to the back side. We made them work to get that, and I think that’s how we did it today.”
Reading discovered a second gear. Emon Centrella ripped a shot into the twine with 8:57 to play within the quarter, whereas Koster netted his second aim only a second later to make it 8-1, and the Rockets coasted to the end.
Duxbury (20-4) was powered all day by Wien (two targets).
“They just played their hearts out today,” stated Hardy. “Today, we were the better team. Chris (Sweet) is a great coach. That team’s a good team. Today was our day, and we earned it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com