Strong Start in Box Lacrosse for Aged Wood

Things are off to a , Westwood's mens lacrosse team.

The team finished with two victories in a double-header against the Sudbury Olde Patriots, whom the team competes against in the Old New England Lacrosse League (ONELL). 

Aged Wood got out to an early lead in the first game with a score of 4-1, and never looked back.

The team finished with a 19-10 victory, with contributions in scoring and assists coming from everywhere, according to goalie and Westwood resident John Hauck.

The second game was a tighter, with the Westwood team jumping out early. Sudbury tied the game at 8-8 about halfway in the second half, Hauck said, and then Westwood put the gas on and finished the game with a 19-8 victory.

The games were in the form of box lacrosse, which is played inside in a boarded field identical to a hockey rink, except that the playing surface is turf. 

Field lacrosse normally has 10 players per side, but in box lacrosse there are only six players (both numbers include the goalies).  

Likewise, there are no "longstick" defenseman in box lacrosse, and this form of the sport is typically faster and more aggressive than the outdoor game, due to the space being considerably smaller, Hauck said.

"While we have been playing box as a team since October, this was our first game versus an outside team," Hauck said. "We have had some player turnover in the club this year, but in their debut Sunday night with Aged Wood, Bill Greene, Karl Langmuir, Greg Mahoney, John Mone, Glenn Cahaly, Dan Chapman and Andrew Yavarov immediately contributed."

The team has another home matchup this Sunday against the Buzzard Bay Buzzards at 8 p.m. at the Canton Sportsplex.  

"They were one of the three teams to beat us last summer during the regular season," Hauck said. "They were also a participant in the ONELL playoffs last year, so we expect a tough game."