Winchester Lacrosse Looking to Fulfill High Expectations

Because of its history, the boys lacrosse program always has high expectations for the season, and this year is no different.

"Our goal is always to make the state tournament and win the Middlesex League," said John Pirani, who started coaching in 1976 and has been the head coach at Winchester since 1989. "I feel like our skill level, our talent and the kids attitude — based on the out-of-season conditioning —really put us in a position to challenge for that."

The team returns two of their three starters on both attack and defense, along with starting goalie Alex Sharp.

 Sharp started every game last year as a sophomore. While he's grown physically since that time, Pirani is most impressed with how his maturity and confidence has grown.

"Mechanically he's about the same but he's a little sharper, little more skilled," Pirani said. "You can see his confidence level is so much higher. He's a little better stopping the ball, a little better directing the defense."

Sharp will have Danny Donovan and Peter Troiano in front of him again. Donovan and Troiano both played hockey over the winter and are big, physical defenseman that run well.

"They completely understand the system and communicate very well," Pirani said.

 On attack the returning starters are senior Alex Kohn and junior Jesse Samek. Kohn is a four-year letterman who Pirani calls a "fireplug."

He's a well-conditioned athlete who protects his stick and rides hard on defense. He was used more as a passer from the X last year but is moving to the wing this season.

Kohn's distribution skills and mentality as a mucker serve as a perfect compliment to Samek, a great finisher and finesse player who scored 35 goals last season.

Headlining the midfield is another hockey player, Ryan McGoff, who is a very good shooter and defender.

The newcomers are led by sophomores Chris O'Connell and Ryan Murphy.

O'Connell is a smooth attackman with long strides and good hands. Murphy, who started on the basketball team this winter, has a very good burst and a great understanding of where to be on the field.

The schedule is highlighted by the Coaches Challenge Cup, an eight-team tournament modeled after the Beanpot. Winchester will host the final on April 23.

The season starts on Thursday as the Sachems travel to Weymouth.

Winchester boys lacrosse
Last season: 14-9
Key players: Alex Kohn, Sr., A; Jesse Samek, Jr., A; Ryan McGoff, Sr., M; Danny Donovan, Sr., D; Peter Troiano, Sr., D; Alex Sharp, Jr., G. Key losses: Gregg Kelley, M; Joey Cleary, M.
Outlook: Winchester returns a lot of talent on attack and defense, but new midfielders need to step in to replace Kelley, who will play at Amherst next year, and Cleary, who is playing football at Bowdoin. This group has the talent to get further than last season, when the Sachems fell to North Andover in the first round of the Division 2 East state tournament, but it needs to play with confidence.
Quote: "Our goal is always to make the state tournament and win the
Middlesex League" — coach John Pirani