Nauset Boys Lacrosse Hopes To Build On Final Four Trip

The Nauset boys lacrosse team wants to take the next step. 

 After suffering a 19-5 loss to eventual state champion Medfield in the Division 3 state semifinals last year, the Warriors are eager to get another shot at reaching the title game. 

 “They are really disappointed about how last year ended, even though we were playing a really good team,” Nauset coach Jesse Peno said. “I think they have the mindset that they want to get back there and have a different result.”

 The Warriors brought back plenty of talent from last year’s 12-5 squad, including senior Joey Berardi, who is committed to play at Assumption University and returns as one of the Cape’s most prolific scorers. Fellow seniors Logan Poulin and Zach Coelho are back at midfield and goalie, respectively. 

 Senior Mason Santos has anchored the defense alongside junior Brendan Peno, who is working his way back after suffering a broken ankle during the football season. Brendan’s younger brother, Jack Peno, a freshman, has provided a spark at attack during the team’s 1-1 start. 

 Nauset fell to Mansfield, 17-16, in a back-and-forth shootout to open the season before rebounding with an 11-9 win over King Philip on Friday. 

 “Both were really good, tough and really solid teams,” Peno said. “I think Mansfield is going to be a sneaky team to watch in Division 2, and King Philip is really solid and tough.”

 It was a quick turnaround for Poulin and Coelho, who captained Nauset’s boys hockey team to the Division 3 state title with a 4-1 victory over Medfield. 

 “The hockey guys went from winning the title on Sunday to lacrosse practice on Monday,” Peno said. 

The coach said the excitement from the hockey team’s title extended to the lacrosse field, especially with Poulin and Coelho playing such a critical role in the team’s success. 

 “It translates over really well,” Peno said. “It’s a nice frame of reference when two of the hockey captains are two of our lacrosse captains. They’ve got that experience, they know what it takes to get to where you want to be. 

“They had to come back after a tough ending the year before and get back into it, so having their perspective has been awesome.”

Nauset has scheduled another stout, challenging regular season slate to prepare for the postseason. The Cape and Islands League will be stacked once again, with defending Division 4 state champion Nantucket and Falmouth among the teams standing in the Warriors’ way of another league title. 

“We’ve (won the league) two years in a row, but last year we didn’t,” Peno said. “For some of those guys, that was a first for them. We had always won it and been on top. For us to get where we want to go, we’ve got to win the Atlantic Division first. 

“After that, we want to win the state championship. That’s what they’ve set their sights on.”