FILE PHOTO
Anthony DelVecchio (right) is one of four St. Mary’s representatives on the South roster.
By HAROLD RIVERA
When St. Mary’s coach Josh Field was tabbed to coach the South team for tonight’s 6th Agganis All-Star boys lacrosse game, he knew the opportunity to lead a group of local talents would be an honor. To make the experience even more memorable for Field, the Agganis game will give him one final go-round with four of his Spartan stars.
Representing St. Mary’s on Field’s South roster are Anthony DelVecchio, Brendon Donahue, Andrew Kreamer and Dante Maribito. All four of the recent St. Mary’s graduates were major contributors to a Spartans team that won the program’s first state tournament game with a victory over Swampscott.
Although St. Mary’s fell short of a state title with a loss in the next round at top-seeded Hamilton-Wenham, Field reflects on the 2017 season as a positive one.
“I don’t like to look a records as being indicative of how a season plays out,” Field said. “We won our first playoff game. At one point in the year we were 5-9. We won seven straight and won our first playoff game.”
Field added, “The effort our guys put on at Hamilton-Wenham was terrific. It was a phenomenal year. The backbone of that success was the willingness of our kids to get better every day. We were a different team the last time we walked off the field than the first time we walked on it.”
Much of the success St. Mary’s achieved this past spring can be credited to the leadership and dedication brought forth by the four Spartans playing in tonight’s game. In the four years they’ve worn the St. Mary’s uniform, Field said, the program has grown and moved in a positive direction.
“I’m not sure the program would be there without them,” Field said. “Our program is vibrant and growing, without question. Brendon played goalie since his first day as a freshman. Dante and Andrew go from the TD Garden with the hockey team on a Sunday to joining us on a Monday. Anthony, you watch him work and you feel like you owe it to him to give the extra time as a coach and a player.”
Field added, “These guys are so important to the program. I’m not sure it would be where it is today without them.”
With four Spartans representing St. Mary’s in the Agganis game, it’s clear that Field’s program is on the map. That too can be credited to the four all-stars.
“These guys have set the bar high for players to follow,” Field said. “I think that’s one of the most important things they’ve done. They’ve put St. Mary’s on the map. I think the expectations for the underclassmen in our program have changed dramatically.”
For Field, tonight’s game won’t be the first time he’s taken part in an Agganis showcase. The St. Mary’s coach previously served as an assistant in the Agganis All-Star football game.
“It’s probably one of the greatest honors in my 10 years coaching high school lacrosse,” Field, said. “I was an assistant coach on the football side and that was a pleasure. It’s a great honor and I’m looking forward to being on the field with the kids and the coaches.”
In looking at the names on the North and South rosters, Field added, it’s evident that lacrosse is an evolving sport across the North Shore.
“I’m not just seeing it at the high school level, but also at the youth levels,” Field said. “Lacrosse has come very far over the past few years on the North Shore. It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication that coaches and program directors are committing to their teams and the sport.”
Although Field’s been tabbed to coach a roster full of the area’s top lacrosse talent, the number one takeaway from tonight’s game will be coaching his four Spartans for one last game in their own backyard at Manning Field.
“These four seniors, to have one more chance to coach them and see them play one last time at Manning Field, a field where these guys have worked very hard to help our program, is the perfect way to cap off their runs,” Field said. “It’s just a real treat for me to sit back and watch it.”
Field will coach the South team alongside Beverly’s Jim LaSelva.
The 6th Agganis Agganis All-Star girls lacrosse game starts at 5:30 p.m. at Manning Field, followed by the boys game at 7