Congratulations to Wellesley High School Boys Lacrosse

This time, Wellesley leaves no doubt; Raiders storm past Minnechaug to title

By Steve Crowe, Globe Correspondent

WELLESLEY -- Prior to the season, coach Chris Gelinas gave his Wellesley team a red flag and after each game, the Raiders wrote the score and the name of the best defensive player on the flag. Senior Chris Teves said the flag symbolizes the Raiders' season-long theme, borrowed from pirate lore: Take no prisoners, give no quarter. Just go hard. The Raiders, after losing the Division 2 state championship final for two years, by a combined two goals, dominated defending champion Minnechaug, 12-3, yesterday at Hunnewell Field. Wellesley (24-1) set the tempo from the beginning and won the first lacrosse title in school history. The players huddled around their trademark flag after the game, adding the final score that capped their long awaited championship.  "I can't explain it," said Teves. "It's just unbelievable to end your career on your home field, on your third go at it. For the seniors who went through those two losses, this is all worth it. The revenge is sweet."

Ray Mooney scored two goals and had three assists before he was ejected in the fourth quarter. Andrew Peisch and James Baghai each scored twice. Baghai was sensational on faceoffs, winning 13 of 18. "It's been a long, very tiring road," Gelinas said. "This was our one goal. For [the players] to set that goal, be here today and accomplish it, it's outstanding."  Wellesley showed the killer instinct it lacked in the past two championship games. The man-to-man defensive pressure held the Falcons' explosive duo of James Gianfelice and Brendon Eckhof f to one goal apiece. It was also the second straight game in which the Raiders defense allowed only one goal after halftime.  "That's what they do," said Gelinas of the defense that gave up only 3.28 goals a game this season. "It's a core group of seniors . . . this is usual for them. They've been in this situation before.  The Wellesley offense controlled the pace, playing its usual patient game. The Raiders didn't force anything and found the seams in the Falcons' zone. Of their 12 goals, six were bounced past Minnechaug goalie Keegan Boyle (five saves), who had a tough time maneuvering after separating his shoulder in the semifinals against South Hadley.  "We came out and tested the field and the bounces were pretty crazy, even for our goalie," said Teves. "We wanted to exploit that and get those shots on cage and, luckily, they fell for us."  The Raiders, leading, 5-2, at the half, blew the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Minnechaug, 4-1. Donald Conway (three goals, two assists) bounced one home with 9:22 left. The teams traded goals before Wellesley scored twice in the final 1:16 to move ahead, 9-3, after three quarters. Mooney scored twice in the fourth before being ejected for unsportsmanlike play.

"They pushed us out and pressured us," said coach Russ Mooney, whose Falcons finished 18-7. "We have a few young kids that were in a little shock and awe. Obviously, it wasn't a good day for us. I think it's one of those things where it took so much energy for us to get here, unfortunately we didn't have much in reserve."

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.