ANDOVER — Mac Gobiel was everywhere on Lovely Field on Friday.
The Andover High senior was a big part of the defense, a big part of the transition game and more importantly a huge part in the No. 6 seed Golden Warriors’ dominating 15-5 victory over No. 27 seed Belmont in a Division 1 Round of 32 boys lacrosse game.
While the senior midfielder excelled in those areas, he also chipped in offensively. He scored three goals, including his last one coming off a long bounce shot landing in the low right hand corner – while taking a pretty good hit — with 9:05 left in the fourth quarter.
The goal extended Andover’s lead to double-digits, and it marked the 100th career goal for the Division 1 Le Moyne College commit.
“I got hit a little high (when I took the shot), but it’s just about trusting our systems,” Gobiel said of the goal. “It wasn’t just me, (the credit goes to) everyone who got me the ball. I don’t know who passed the ball to me, but I saw an opening and just shot it. (Reaching 100 career goals is big). I’ve been playing varsity for four years and coach (Bryan) Brazill has been here since then and I think we’ve come a long way since. It’s a big milestone for me, but really it’s a team milestone.”
When it comes to lacrosse milestones, it’s usually attackers who register 100 or 200 career goals – not middies.
“Mac is everything to this program,” said Brazill. “He’s been here since he was a freshman. He’s such a hard worker. He’s a great leader and a great kid. He plays defense for us. He transitions the ball, he plays offense and he’s just so selfless. I just love the kid.”
Andover took it to Belmont right away with Jack Cooper scoring the team’s first three goals. After that it was JP Guinee’s turn, as he scored three straight in the second quarter as part of his team high five goals. Ethan Ruvido added two goals, while, Daniel Guinee and Andrew LaChapelle added one each.
“We have a lot of guys on offense that can all play,” said Gobiel. “We like to share the ball, so it’s someone different on any given day.”
The Golden Warriors improved to 12-3 with the win, and now advance to the Round of 16 for the second straight year and will face the winner of Saturday’s game between No. 11 St. John’s of Shrewsbury and No. 22 Weymouth.
“I’ve watched a lot of film on both teams and respect both programs quite a bit,” said Brazill. “I’ll be going to the game and just want to make sure that we’ll be ready. We just have to play our game and win.”
Andover 15, Belmont 5
Belmont (8-11): 2-1-1-1–5
Andover (12-3): 5-3-5-2–15
First Quarter
A: Jack Cooper, 10:28; B: Brendan O’Connor, 9:51; A: Cooper, 7:11; A: Cooper, 5:42; A: Daniel Guinee, 4:24; B: Matthew Pomer, 2:46; A, Mac Gobiel, 0:04.
Second Quarter
A: JP Guinee, 8:06; A: JP Guinee, 7:18; A: JP Guinee, 6:19; B: Eli Akins, 3:56.
Third Quarter
A: Ethan Ruvido, 10:19; A: Gobiel, 6:35; A: Ruvido, 4:52; A: JP Guinee, 3:59; A: JP Guinee, 2:30; B: O’Connor, 0:35.
Fourth Quarter
A: Gobiel, 9:05; A, Andrew LaChapelle, 4:15; B: Declan Doherty, 3:15.
Saves: B, Nate Moss 7; A, Maksim Currerie 7.