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| Tyngsboro junior middie Kyle Laforge. |
Much will be expected of this year's Tyngsboro boys lacrosse team, after last year's squad posted an undefeated record in Mid-Wach B play, and made a run to the Division 3 Central/East semifinals.
The Tigers will again have the potential to be special, led by a returning All-American, and one of the best returning goalies in the region. There are questions of depth and experience, but the top-end talent in Tyngsboro takes a back seat to nobody, and the Tigers are confident that plenty of young guys will step up as they attempt to take the next step this season.
Here's a closer look.
Attack
Tyngsboro returns one of our preseason attack favorites, senior Russ Gillis, whose physical presence should be felt even more this season. The Tigers are looking for some fresh faces to emerge next to Gillis, but there appears to be plenty of talent up front.
Midfield
The strength of the Tigers should again be their midfield, led by returning All-American junior Kyle Laforge. The speedy two-way middie does a little bit of everything, but he's at his best dodging and creating offense for himself and his teammates.
Senior Matt Sola should tie the rest of the midfield together, with a powerful shot and a diverse skill set. Both of these guys will get time at the face-off X, and will be counted on to bring along several younger players to build depth.
Defense
The Tigers lose an outstanding pole in Dave Walker, but return both Kevin Butler and Ryan Richardson from last year's underrated defense. Look for Brendan Bartlett to make the move from LSM to close D to form another solid group.
Goalie
Dan Powers seemingly came out of nowhere last year to emerge as one of the best goalies in the Mid-Wach. A lefty with quick hands and natural instincts on the clear, Powers has made the unlikely journey from backup LSM to star goalie in the course of a year and a half.
Coaches believe his calm demeanor should also help anchor a defense that was better than you remember last year, and could be among the best in Central Mass this season.
Joe's Forecast
What's not to like about this team? Sure, they lose some excellent players in middie Austin Coene and pole Dave Walker, but with Gillis and Laforge leading the offense, along with an experienced and talented nucleus on defense, the Tigers should again be the favorites in Mid-Wach B.
The tournament is a trickier nut to crack, as Tyngsboro will again compete in the brutal Division 3 Central/East, with teams like Weston and reigning state champion Dover-Sherborn.
The Tigers lost a close one to Weston a season ago, but this year's group should be able to play with anybody. Expect another league crown and deep tournament run from Tyngsboro.
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