(Bottom) [Left to Right]: Jack Melville, Matthew Czerepuszko, Matthew Lavoie, Samuel Veronesi, Sebastian Fusco, Colin Asklar, Nathaniel Tracy, JP Gorneault, Brian Formica
(Middle) [Left to Right]: Mark Bednarczyk, Tyler Ralph, Daniel Cervoni, Domenic Scarano, Nick Grant, Luke Wininger, TJ Hebert, Sam Riedel, Aaron Gauvin, John Downes, Matt Jutras
(Top - Coaches) [Left to Right]: Mark Lavoie, Eric Gauvin
Berlin Senior Boys Red team makes History...
Sunday June 14: Today the Berlin Youth Lacrosse Senior Red Boy’s team made history by defeating Burlington 15-9 in John-Hopkins CVYL Championship game. This marks the first time ever in the 10+ year program that a Berlin Youth Lacrosse team has won a CVYL Championship game. Congratulations to all players and coaches!
In order for the Senior Boys team to get to this game they first faced off against a competitive Newington team. The game was close the entire contest and Berlin never led by more than two goals. With under a minute left Berlin scored to seal the victory and a 7-4 final. The next stop was a defensive Chicopee team. Chicopee only allowed 17 goals in five games and opened up with a 2-0 lead against Berlin. Berlin fought back to make it a 3-2 half time score. The Berlin Bulldogs came out fired up in the beginning of the 3rd quarter scoring five straight goals. Chicopee added a couple of goals late but Berlin went on to win 10-4 and advanced to the championship game.
The championship stage was set, Berlin vs Burlington. Berlin won a previous meeting earlier in the season against Burlington 8-6 but a lot can happen in a month. The boys knew it was going to be a tough game and one that required 110% - and they delivered. The game went back and forth with neither team leading by more than two untl late in the second quarter. Berlin scored 3 unanswered goals making the halftime lead 4. Burlington cut the lead back to two goals midway through the 3rd quarter. Berlin re-grouped and opened up the game scoring another set of goals and making the lead 4 again. With approximately 4 minutes remaining Berlin had a 14-9 lead. A last minute goal clinched the victory and for the first time ever in Berlin Youth Lacrosse history, the Bulldogs won a CVYL Championship game!
Many of the players on the Bulldog team were also there five years earlier when the first Bantam boys lacrosse team was created. What a way to start your youth lacrosse career and even a better way to end by winning the championship. Good luck to all of those who continue their lacrosse careers; next stop Berlin High School!
Many showed up to support the Bulldogs during their Championship run including: coaches Rob Grega (Senior Girls) and Ryan Mrachek (Bantam Boys); all the Berlin Lacrosse families; neighbors and friends. It just goes to show what a GREAT Lacrosse Community we really have. Thanks for all your support!
