Nauset Boys Lacrosse Falls In Division 3 State Semifinals

NORWELL – The Nauset boys lacrosse team’s historic season came to an end against another historic program with plenty of firepower.

No. 5 Nauset suffered a 19-5 loss to top-seeded Medfield on Tuesday afternoon in the Division 3 state semifinals at Norwell High. It marked the first state semifinals appearance for Nauset, which finished its season 12-10.

Medfield returns to the state final for the first time since its 2022 squad suffered an 11-3 loss to Norwell. Last year, Medfield reached the semifinals and fell again to Norwell, 16-4.

“I told them they can now say they played against one of the top programs in the state — of all time, realistically — and they battled,” said Nauset coach Jesse Peno. “They made the Final Four and they did that off their own effort and their own toughness. I’m so proud of them.”

Although Medfield senior Tim Collins opened the scoring in the first minute, Nauset quickly rallied to garner a 2-1 advantage after goals by seniors Riley Meehan and Liam Johnston.

Johnston’s goal was fit for SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays, as the defenseman caught a pass in stride and fired a shot behind his back to give Nauset an early lead.

It was all Medfield from there, however. The top seed and perennial power scored the next eight goals to take a 9-2 lead into halftime. Sophomore Braedon Sutton led the way with six goals, and Collins tallied four goals and three assists.

“They don’t make mistakes,” Peno said. “They are super well-coached and they’ve seen everything that you can throw at them. It’s lax IQ and the ball just moves so fast. Any mistake you make, they pounce on it.”

Nauset senior Colby Smith tallied two goals, while classmate Ryder Holm also found the back of the net in the fourth quarter.

Playing against Medfield was an eye-opening experience for Nauset. Peno said he hopes the program will continue to grow and blossom into a perennial title contender like their counterpart.

“I said we want to be at that level where you’re consistently, year in and year out, competing for a title,” Peno said. “It’s dedication, it’s hard work, and it’s doing the extra stuff when nobody is watching. We have guys that do that, so it’s just a matter of time.”

Although the outcome wasn’t what Nauset had hoped for, it signifies another step forward for the program. Peno was quick to praise his seniors for helping the team reach new heights during the program’s deepest postseason run.

“That’s their legacy, they were the first group to do that,” he said. “They can hang their hat on that. It shows the [younger] guys to keep working and keep building. We’ve got something good going here, the younger guys see it. When it’s your turn to be the upperclassmen and lead, it’s your turn to do it. We want to make these runs every year, that’s the goal and those guys have continued that tradition.”