HATHORNE — From the moment they won the game’s opening faceoff Friday afternoon, the Essex Tech boys lacrosse team was in total control of their Division 3 preliminary round playoff contest.
The Hawks controlled play from start to finish, getting eight points each from standout attackmen Fisher Gadbois and Timothy Tavares while playing lockdown defense in a 17-4 throttling of visiting Assabet Valley.
Gadbois, a junior captain, found the back of the Aztecs’ net six times, including five times in the first half as the hosts raced out to a 6-1 lead after one quarter and 12-2 by intermission.
Tavares scored three times and dished out five assists, becoming the first North Shore player to eclipse 100 points this spring. The senior now has 52 goals and 49 assists, with Gadbois (50 goals, 47 assists) close behind.
Junior attack Casey Collins was another big scorer for Essex Tech, finishing with five goals. So was Nevin Maher, as the senior captain found the back of the Assabet Valley net himself once while dishing out five assists.
“We got into an early rhythm and were in sync with each other,” Collins, who hails from Peabody, said of the Hawks’ offensive production Friday. “Everyone was moving, knowing where each other was. It’s like everyone does their own thing, but as a team. We’re each doing our roles and know what we need to do so that the offense works best.”
“We ran our offense the way we wanted, we ran our defense the way we wanted, everyone stayed healthy and everyone got in, including both of our goalies (Joe Dresser and Conor Lacey),” added Hawks head coach Josh Field. “We couldn’t have asked for a better playoff opener.”
Dresser, a freshman starter, made four saves for Essex Tech (the 29th seed in the Division 3 draw) before giving way to his fellow ninth grader, Lacey (2 saves). In front of them, defenders such as senior Owen Addessa, junior Sean Morris, sophomore D-mid Jack Hanchett and senior captain Enzo DeLuca limited the shots their goalkeepers saw by causing turnovers and quickly transitioning the ball back the other way.
“We’ve learned how to be more physically defensively as a unit,” said Addessa, who also calls Peabody home. “We’ve had a lot of good coaching, which has helped us play better in our own end.”
Midfielder Chase Ruberti added one goal and two assists for the winners, with freshman Luke Berthiaume also scoring late and junior middie Tyler McHugh picking up an assist.
“With our team we have a lot of chemistry,” said Ruberti, a junior from Middleton. “For me, if there’s an offensive opportunity I’m willing to go in there, but if not I’m happy to feed other people, too. (Assists) are a great feeling; points are points. They impact the team and help us.”
Essex Tech advances to the first round of play, where the No. 4 seed, Dracut (15-3), awaits.
“We’ll have to work hard and get physical with them,” said Ruberti.
“We’re looking forward to the next challenge,” added Field.