Norwell High boys lacrosse team claims first state title with 'unbelievable' performance
WORCESTER – To win a state title, teams must be playing their best at the end of the season.
It doesn’t get much better than the performance the Norwell High boys lacrosse team ended the 2021-22 MIAA calendar with Wednesday at Worcester State University.
The Clippers played lockdown defense in front of a brick-wall goalie, John Mullen won 13 of 18 faceoffs at the X in a star-studded matchup, and six different players chipped in offensively. All of that resulted in Norwell’s first state title with an 11-3 victory over powerhouse Medfield in the Division 3 final.
More: Dynamite defensive performance sends Norwell boys lacrosse past Hanover into state final
“We knew these guys could do it if they executed everything, I mean, they executed unbelievably today,” said Norwell coach Josh Stolp. "They were unbelievable today.”
A year ago, Norwell lost to Dover-Sherborn in the Div. 3 final.
“Last year really motivated us to come back this year and just win it,” said Norwell senior Griffin Vetrano.
Third-quarter run
The Clippers held a 3-1 lead at halftime following a defensive battle in the first half. Norwell took over in the third quarter to lock up a secure lead and take a 9-2 advantage into the final quarter.
The Clippers broke the game open in the last minute of the quarter with three goals to turn a 6-2 edge into a seven-goal canyon.
More: Short of last year's state title, Norwell boys lax stays present in quest for redemption
Senior Joe Daly (two goals) scored a goal from a tough angle to start the explosion with 41 seconds remaining in the quarter. Mullen won the ensuing faceoff, raced down the field and scored to make it 8-2. Vetrano polished off his hat trick with a goal with 1.1 seconds left in the frame for one final nail in the coffin.
“It was pretty surreal,” said Vetrano of the last few weeks. Earlier in the tournament, he broke the program’s all-time scoring record by surpassing 220 points. “It’s something you dream of and we did it.”
“That was huge because we’ve always struggled in the third quarter,” said Stolp. “Our offense, when they get going they’re great, but sometimes we struggle a little bit there. That was kind of when we knew we could finish this thing off.”
Another defensive gem
In the tournament, the Clippers allowed just 13 goals total. Medfield was the highest-powered offense they were tasked with shutting down. The Warriors came in averaging 18.5 goals per game in the tournament.
“Our defense was unreal,” said Stolp. “They took away every look that they had. We had gone over a lot of film on it and they did a great job picking everything, seeing what their tendencies were, where they were looking to move.”
More: HIGH SCHOOL BOYS LACROSSE: Norwell hits the Daly double to advance to D3 state semifinals
For the first three quarters, it was Norwell’s defenders shutting off the Medfield offense. But as the Warriors furiously tried to climb back in the game in the fourth quarter, goalie Ryan Daly stopped five shots. He finished the day with nine saves.
“Our goalie was spectacular all day and our defensive middies did a great job of taking away that offense that basically initiates a lot from the midfield,” said Stolp.
That was the lowest goal total for the Warriors since a loss to Duxbury in 2018.
The defense even joined the offensive onslaught. Sophomore Ronan Schipani scored two goals in transition with a long-pole.
“We’ve been practicing that all year, pushing the break,” said Schipani.
“They’re amazing,” said Vetrano of his defense. "Jack Coyle, unreal locking down their best player. Ryan (Daly), stud, amazing. Ronan (Schipani) was amazing, Will (Morse) and Charlie (Booras) got probably five turnovers each. I can’t be more proud.”
A varied attack
Four different Clippers had multi-goal days with Vetrano leading the way with three. Joseph Daly, Schipani and Mullen all had two. Ryan Shea and Nathan Curtin had solo tallies. Timothy Ward handed out two assists. Brian Black, Maxwell Maiellano and Coyle each had one assist.
Winning a state title was not a surprise for Norwell, but the fashion they did it in was a bit of a surprise. On April 9, Norwell defeated Medfield, 8-7, in a game that was considered an upset by some. Wednesday’s result could technically go down as an upset too, as the Clippers were the No. 2 seed and Medfield was No. 1.
“Honestly, not really,” said Vetrano when asked if it was the game he expected. “We expected a game, but that’s just the way it happens.”
A long time coming
Norwell’s first state title in boys lacrosse was a long time in the making. The Clippers have been consistent contenders, but found themselves on the losing side to some high-powered Cohasset teams in the old South Sectional format. There was no denying Norwell, which finished 21-2 (losses against Div. 1 Marshfield and Franklin by one goal), this spring.
“We’ve kind of been building, building, building, but we haven’t got quite to the mountaintop of it yet,” said Stolp. “I think it is nice to have that off our back a little bit moving forward.”
He credited the senior class – which includes Shanen Bateman, Black, Coyle, Curtin, Joe Daly, Maiellano, Thomas McMahon and Vetrano – with leading the way.
“The senior class has done a great job sort of guiding everybody,” said Stolp.
Looking ahead to next season, with Mullen and Daly returning, the Clippers already have a strong foundation. That doesn’t include the other key returners ready to take on bigger roles next season.
“We lose a lot of really talented guys,” said Stolp. “We have a lot of young guys who are going to be very good, so there’s a little bit of work we’re going to have to put in before that, but I mean it’s always in the back of everybody’s mind, right?”
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Norwell High boys lacrosse claims first state title with Medfield win
