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Injuries couldn't stop a gritty BC High lacrosse team from returning to the state final

chris mcdaniel, the patriot ledger
·5 min read

WORCESTER — Following the BC High lacrosse team’s 11-5 loss to St. John’s Prep in the Division 1 state final on Tuesday, coach Marcus Craigwell’s voice was emblematic of the Eagles' season.

Like their coach’s voice, which was hoarse and dry from draining his vocal cords for the 48-minute final, the banged-up Eagles got the most out of their talent and left everything on the field.

“We’ve got a lot of grit and just mental toughness,” said Craigwell. “You’ve got to be mentally tough in order to adjust and play and keep up with a team like St. John’s Prep.”

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BC High was without four key players in the final, but there the Eagles were, tied with a top-seeded juggernaut at halftime, 4-4.

BC High players Will Emsing, left, Ronan Bailey and Jack Pyne listen to coaches after the 11-4 loss to St. John's Prep in the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.
BC High players Will Emsing, left, Ronan Bailey and Jack Pyne listen to coaches after the 11-4 loss to St. John's Prep in the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.

But the St. John’s Prep (22-1) defense shut down BC High’s offense in the second half. The Prep went on a 4-0 run in the third quarter, which was ended with a goal from senior captain James Krzywda (Milton) early in the fourth quarter, and closed the game with the final three goals.

In Tuesday’s contest, BC High (17-6) was without junior captain James Carroll (long-stick midfielder from Milton), Shane McDonnell (freshman FOGO), Emmett Connolly (defender from Norwell) and Aidan McDonnell (defensive midfielder).

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“We didn’t want to make that an excuse, but we just had to adjust,” said Craigwell. "I think the team competed today and did everything I could ask for. They fought through adversity and they got us to the championship game.”

BC High players Tim Rogers, left, goalie Andrew Toland, and Will Emsing wait to receive their finalist medals after an 11-5 loss to St. John's Prep in the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.
BC High players Tim Rogers, left, goalie Andrew Toland, and Will Emsing wait to receive their finalist medals after an 11-5 loss to St. John's Prep in the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.

Senior Joe Larosa of Hingham was forced to take faceoffs and did an admirable job against St. John’s Prep FOGO Christopher Esposito. Larosa held a 6-3 edge in the first half, but Esposito ultimately finished with a 9-9 draw.

“Joe played like a senior today,” said Craigwell. “Their faceoff guy is great. They made some adjustments in the second half, some balls didn’t go our way at the face, but it is what it is.”

BC High looked to be in trouble early as some turnovers proved costly and St. John’s Prep took a 3-0 lead behind tallies from Jimmy Ayers, Harlan Graber and Charlie Wilmot.

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But like they have all season when presented with adversity, BC High responded. Junior Will Emsing (Norwell) assisted Krzydwa goal to cut the lead to 3-1.

Then, BC High scored two goals in the final 24 seconds of the half. Senior captain Tim Rogers (Weymouth) buried a feed from junior Cooper Chapman (Hingham). St. John’s Prep won the ensuing faceoff, but junior goaltender Andrew Toland (Hingham) made a save, which paved the way for Emsing to score with 4 seconds left in the quarter. Brody Rice, a junior from Milton, assisted on Emsing’s goal.

BC High's Will Emsing, right, fends off St. John's Prep's Connor Kelly during the second half of the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.
BC High's Will Emsing, right, fends off St. John's Prep's Connor Kelly during the second half of the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.

Following Graber’s second goal of three goals, Chapman tied the game off a dodge with 2:59 left in the first half.

BC High ended the half with a penalty, and within the first 61 seconds on the third quarter St. John’s Prep stretched it lead to 6-4.

“I thought our gameplan was sound; they made a bunch of plays and stressed us,” said St. John’s Prep coach John Pynchon of the first half. “(The message for the second half was) for us to be calm, to stick to the program. We knew there were going to be opportunities.”

St. John's Prep players celebrate after defeating BC High 11-5 for the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.
St. John's Prep players celebrate after defeating BC High 11-5 for the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.

The game was the third meeting between the two programs this season (St. John’s Prep won both regular-season games) and a rematch of last year’s Div. 1 final, which St. John’s Prep also won.

“It’s going to be forever,” said Craigwell of the rivalry. “We just know each other so well. They’re well coached and every little mistake matters and every possession matters. Those just get highlighted in a game like this. It’s the person that basically makes less errors wins the game.

“Everyone has their year and they had theirs strung up back to back so we’ve got to get the next one.”

“I feel like we’ve played BC High more than anyone else by far and it’s good, it’s great,” Pynchon said of the rivalry. "They have great athletes, Marcus is a great coach. They come hard and they compete and they stress us in a bunch of different ways. Being able to do that down at their place early in April and then having them come up to our place, it just really prepares us for these situations.”

BC High's Tim Rogers, front, loses the ball in front of the St. John's Prep net during the first half of the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.
BC High's Tim Rogers, front, loses the ball in front of the St. John's Prep net during the first half of the MIAA Division 1 boys lacrosse state championship at Worcester State University, June 21, 2022.

BC High will graduate 10 seniors: Ronan Bailey (Hingham), Connolly, Aidan McDonnell, Cole Rawson (Cohasset), Andrew Walsh, James Calci, Krzywda, Rogers, Larosa and Alex Marre.

“Special,” said Craigwell of his seniors. “I don’t think anybody knew in 2022 we could get to this point, but the seniors stepped up and really got this team on the next-man-up mentality. We just rolled with that.”

BC High will return a boatload of talent next season, highlighted by Emsing, a junior captain, and Toland. Toland played his best during the tournament and his top performance came against Lincoln-Sudbury in an 8-6 semifinal win.

“Toland’s All-American, easily,” said Craigwell. “He saw the ball well, he’s just a great player and he demanded a lot out of the defense and we really rely on him.”

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: St. John's Prep defeats BC High in Division 1 boys lacrosse final