DANVERS — The St. John’s Prep lacrosse team had to battle a league rival, some tough weather and a 14-hour delay in order to pull out the victory, but the Eagles managed to do it all in an 11-7 win over BC High to win the Division 1 state championship Thursday afternoon at Glatz Field.
It’s the first state title win for the Prep lacrosse team since 2010, when the Eagles beat Duxbury 12-11 in overtime.
Jimmy Ayers led the offensive attack for St. John’s Prep with four goals and one assist, while Michael Kelly had two goals and one assist. Charlie Danis had two goals and Tommy Sarni notched one goal and one assist, while Graham Tyson and Lucas Verrier each scored one goal. Charlie Wilmot had two assists and Pat Atkins notched one assist. Goalie Kaden Quirk added six saves in net.
The game got off to a blazing start on both sides Wednesday night, with BC High striking first on a goal from Louis Timmons in the opening minutes of the game. Danis answered right back for the Prep to tie the score at 1-1, then Verrier battled his way through a scrum in front of the net to put St. John’s ahead 2-1.
After BC High knotted the score at 2-2 on a goal from Will Emsing, the Prep got back-to-back goals from Kelly and Danis to go up 4-2 before taking a 4-3 lead into the first intermission.
BC High tied things up yet again on a goal from Carter Rice at the beginning of the second quarter, but then Jimmy Ayers netted three straight goals and Graham Tyson and Tommy Sarni each scored a goal to give the Prep a 9-4 lead in the final minutes of the first half before lightning forced a stoppage of play for more than two hours before the game was called off for the night.
After returning Thursday morning, Kelly found the back of the net right before halftime to give the Eagles a 10-4 lead at the break.
Kelly rounded out the scoring when he found the back of the net with three minutes left in the third quarter, then St. John’s just held on through a three-goal BC High rally to run out the clock and take home the title.
St. John’s Prep finishes the season at 17-1.
“This marks the end to a wild season,” said Prep coach John Pynchon. “Despite all the craziness, our 13 seniors — Kaden Quirk, Mitchell Hodgson, Emmet Schillinger, Michael Ayers, Sean O’Brian, Charlie Danis, Pat Atkins, Michael Kelly, Drew Feitze, Grady McGowan, Graham Tyson, Jackson DeSanto and Luke Surette — exhibited great leadership and commitment to our common goals. They leave this program as back to back Catholic Conference champs (2019, 2021) and state champions. Hats off to a tremendous group of young men.”
