representing what Massachusetts lacrosse is all about. Let’s play this last game today, not because we need a victory, but because we all need this sport in our lives.”
The group made the trek, once again, up the stairs to that hot tin roof where they met a confident team already midway through their warm-ups. Laughing and fooling around, the Fed Lax Militia stopped to get their first glimpse at their final foes: a quiet, focused, single-file line of warriors. The Stars put their bags along the wall and took their spot on the field.
Their last game together wasn’t close. In fact, it almost seemed unfair.
The Stars came together with a purpose and played like brothers. Contributions came from everywhere and they shell-shocked the Militia – most of whose players play for towns in Mass Bay’s rival league. With a final score of 11-3, the Stars blew the roof off the concept of a summer club tournament.
This was a hodgepodge, mix-matched, patchwork collection of athletes who trickled in on Saturday morning as shy soon-to-be-Middle Schoolers. They left Providence with their heads held high.
“The team represented MBYLL extremely well in the tournament at Brown University,” surmised Zaccardo. “They played as a balanced unit, competed extremely well, and appreciated a special experience of playing with unknown teammates from across the state. When I first met the players and spoke to them as a team, you could tell they had been very well coached and disciplined by our certificated coaches. It was a very proud and rewarding weekend for MBYLL.”
In between the laughs of new-forged friendships and the quiet moments of recovery in the vanishing shade of the athletic center building, 17 future superstars played serious lacrosse: the kind of lacrosse that seasoned teammates played. In a span of 30 hours, a handful of members of the class of 2023 came from all over the state because they were free that weekend and could think of nothing better to do than to play lacrosse.
And they shined.
20 The Scoop / Spring '17
MBYLL