LYNNFIELD — Sometimes, a team just has your number. Lynnfield’s boys lacrosse team hasn’t beaten Newburyport since 2016, and after Friday, the Pioneers are still looking.
After a morale-boosting win against Bishop Fenwick, Lynnfield (9-8) has since dropped two straight. Newburyport (12-5), on the other hand, just scored 17 goals in a win against North Reading.
Those points in mind, Friday favored the hot hand. The visiting Clippers won 16-6 behind a seven-goal second quarter.
“We’re peaking at a good time. We’re really athletic [and] it seems like our offense is starting to come around,” Wedge said. “We had 17 (goals) last game and 16 this game.”
Lynnfield coach Pat Lamusta said Newburyport has a strong “offensive system” and credited Wedge for how he runs his program.
“Overall, they’ve been pretty good for a while,” Lamusta said. “Coach Wedge does a good job.”
Lynnfield lost to Newburyport just 6-3 back in April. When asked about the difference between the April and May meetings, Lamusta pointed to a lost mindset.
“I think we just didn’t have enough firepower,” Lamusta said. “But overall, I’m proud and they fought until the end.”
It was a runaway victory for the Clippers, but not always. Trailing 1-0 early, Lynnfield’s Will Norton had a defender on his back for a good five seconds, but shrugged him off before tying the game 1-1.
“We have a young group on offense,” Lamusta said. “But I think we saw from a guy like Will Norton that they can take a good run at defenders in our league.”
Owen Considine joined the party shortly after, faking one upstairs before trickling one in to give Lynnfield a 2-1 lead – one that stayed put by the end of the first quarter.
“We don’t have the biggest guys, but they’ll play tough,” Lamusta said.
Then came the second quarter, a lopsided one that Newburyport led 8-2 after. Lamusta pointed to bad matchups on offense, and penalties on defense.
“I would’ve liked it to be a much closer game,” Lamusta said. “We had penalty situations in a game where you needed to keep it close.”
They never quit. Considine scored another, as did Mike Murphy, Kelan Cardinal, and defender AJ Chiaradonna.
“We told the defensive guys – if you have offensive opportunities, take them,” Lamusta said of his long-stick players.
These two won’t fill up the box score every game, but Steven Dreher and James Sharkey will always bring the physicality. That didn’t change Friday, and Lamusta even calls them the “bash brothers.”
“Steven Dreher is the do-it-all kid,” Lamusta said. “I just think he’s been a reliable leader for the defense… I’ve really leaned on guys like him and James (Sharkey).”
Despite playing a competitive fourth, that second quarter plagued the Pioneers. Moving forward, Lamusta hopes to get a few stars back in the lineup.
“We’re definitely hoping we can get Jack Calichman back soon, Drew Damiani back, and maybe even Owen Doherty,” Lamusta said. “Three offensive guys that have started.”
Wedge has seen Calichman and Damiani throughout the seasons, and mentioned their absences on Friday.
“They’re obviously banged up [and without] two of their best players,” Wedge said. “Jack (Calichman) is a really good player and he’s been out all year. Drew (Damiani) is a really good shooter.”
Lynnfield hosts Winthrop in its next, and final, game of the season at 6 p.m. on Monday.
“I think they’ll do well in the tournament,” Wedge said. “I hope they win a bunch of games.”
