Lacrosse Coverage, presented by Kristen Donahue:
Monday Night Lights Belong to Westwood in Rivalry Win

March 30, 2026
 
Westwood Boys Lacrosse hit the road Monday night under the lights for a highly anticipated matchup against TVL Large rival Hopkinton. The two programs have built a strong rivalry over the years, consistently battling for positioning in the league and bringing out the best in each other. After last season’s 13–4 playoff win by Westwood in the Round of 32, this matchup served as an early test for both teams heading into 2026.
 
From the opening whistle, Westwood established control — particularly at the faceoff X and in the possession game. Junior Brett Baima set the tone with key wins, while the defensive unit, led by Ryan Williams, CJ Hancock, J.D. Moerschel, and Ryan Owens, consistently forced turnovers and scooped up ground balls to keep the ball in Westwood’s favor.
 
The Wolverines struck first behind Liam Williams, who fired a rocket that was initially saved by Hopkinton goalie Nate Spinnale before ricocheting out of his stick and into the back of the net. Westwood continued to apply pressure, earning multiple man-up opportunities and capitalizing when CJ Hancock finished in front off a sharp feed from Greg Walsh.
 
Walsh then extended the lead with a strong individual effort, dodging down the left side before switching hands and finishing to make it 3–0. Hopkinton answered with its lone goal of the night from Matt Lotti, but Westwood responded immediately and never looked back.
 
Walsh netted his second of the game in the second quarter, followed by another highlight from Hancock, who added his second goal of the night. At halftime, Westwood held a firm 5–1 lead and full control of the tempo.
 
The second half saw more of the same. Sam Cochran opened the scoring with a sharp finish, and from there, the Wolverines broke the game open with five unanswered goals. Connor Blaney found the back of the net, Senior newcomer Trevor Ferreira showcased his athleticism with a “shake and bake” move through two defenders before finishing and scoring his first career goal, and Giorgio Saghbini added a clean catch-and-shoot goal. Blaney capped his night with a highlight-reel finish, flying through the air for a “Superman-style” goal to the far post.
 
While the offense was explosive and balanced, Westwood’s defense was the story of the night. Senior goalie Jaden Pollack was sharp throughout, making key saves at critical moments to hold Hopkinton to just one goal. In front of him, the defensive unit was relentless, maintaining tight positioning and limiting quality opportunities all game.
 
Ryan Williams anchored the group with a dominant performance, controlling matchups and securing key ground balls in transition. Moerschel and Owens were equally impactful, playing physical defense and creating turnovers that fueled Westwood’s transition game. The midfield contributed as well, with Hancock, Walsh, Will Sesselman, and Liam Williams all active in generating pressure and winning loose balls.
 
Baima’s performance at the faceoff X continued to stand out, as he consistently won draws and battled throughout the night to give Westwood a significant edge in possession.
 
With the win, Westwood improves to 2–0 on the season and will look to carry that momentum into Thursday night’s matchup on the road against Medfield.
 

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