2006 Varsity Roster

2006 Highlights

5/6/2006 Boys Lax Steps Up Against Talented Foe
It was, by all accounts, a great lacrosse game. Andover and perennial New England powerhouse Loomis Chaffee squared off under sunny Saturday skies in Phelps Stadium, and all in attendance were treated to a thrilling contest. The lead changed hands seven times, and no team ever had more than a two-goal cushion. In the end, a tough and determined Loomis team clawed back from a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter and scored the game winner in a man-up situation with just 44 seconds left. Andover never quit and after Matt Ward won the last face-off the Big Blue had a great chance in tight on the Loomis goalie. Unfortunately, on this day, the Loomis goalie was equal to the task and came up with a big stop as time expired to preserve the 10-9 win for the Pelicans. The Andover boys played about as well as they could have played and put together the best team effort of the season. Captains Matt Ward and Matt Yeager once again played like warriors and led the boys in Blue throughout. Short-handed and up against the best attack in New England, the Andover defense played well with Mason Fried, Spencer Johnson, Yoni Gruskin, Eamon Hegarty and Yeager all contributing huge efforts. Goalie Sean Aaron played well between the pipes. Through the midfield, defensive middies Justin Lee and Tony Christiano outworked their Loomis counterparts, and the offensive group of Khaki Burke, Zack Johnson, Dylan Green, Ben Weiner, John Badman and Ward gave the Loomis defense fits creating good scoring chances all afternoon. The attack group of Pat Curtin, Kevin Gould, Jon Bukawyn and Justin Kanter also played well and but for a few missed shots, a heart-breaking pipe here and a great save there, Andover might have pulled off the upset. Frustrated but not disheartened the Andover team looks to build on the solid efforts of the last three games and returns to action against a much-improved Worcester Academy team on Wednesday.

5/3/2006 Andover Boys Lax Tops Tabor Academy 7-6
Andover and Tabor battled through some rough spring weather and played a very competitive lacrosse game through the rain, wind and mud in Marion, MA. For the first time all season Andover jumped out early in a road game and played a strong first half. The first possession of the game proved to be one of Andover’s best as Matt Ward controlled the opening face off, and the Andover offense held the ball for close to three minutes before Zack Johnson found Kevin Gould on the doorstep for a nifty feed and an easy goal. That first possession set the tone for the Andover offense for much of the day as time and time again the Big Blue was able to work the ball around and take quality shots at the Tabor goalie. Andover closed out the half up 4-2 and appeared to catch a big break when Tabor was called for a 3 minute non-releasable stick violation to start the third quarter. To Tabor’s credit, the Seawolves’ man down unit played stingy defense and capitalized on some sloppy Andover offense and half-hearted defense to score a shorthanded goal. That goal seemed to change the momentum for some time and the teams traded goals before Tabor turned up the pressure and forced Andover out of its game and into a series of costly turnovers. As the third quarter ended, Tabor evened the score at 5-5 and looked as if they might pull away. Andover regrouped though and in the fourth quarter played excellent defense and smart, possession offense. Keys goals from Dylan Green and Zack Johnson put Andover up by two, and the defense of Matt Yeager, Mason Fried, Spencer Johnson, Nick Anschuetz and Jake Edwards controlled the dangerous Tabor attack down the stretch. Sean Aaron turned in a brilliant performance between the pipes making 21 saves on the day, many of them in tight and at critical times. Overall, it was a good win for Andover and a total team effort. Matt Ward and Matt Yeager both turned in top-shelf performances and stepped up as true leaders when the going got tough. Jake Edwards continued to play suffocating defense and midfielders Khaki Burke (1g), Dylan Green (1g), Zack Johnson (2g, 3a), Ben Weiner and Ward all played tough, Andover lacrosse. On the attack Justin Kanter gave Andover some valuable minutes and Kevin Gould (2g, 2a), Pat Curtin and John Bukawyn (1g) played perhaps their best game as a group. Andover plays powerhouse Loomis Chaffee on Saturday inside Phelps Stadium. Last year the Pelicans handed the boys from Andover their worst defeat of the season.

4/29/2006 Andover Lax Goes Toe-to-Toe with Deerfield
Under sunny skies in western Massachusetts the Andover boys lacrosse squad battled perennial powerhouse Deerfield Academy in a well-played lacrosse game. Unfortunately, Andover came out a bit flat in the early going, and the potent Deerfield attack jumped on the Andover defense and ran out to a 7-1 first-half lead. The score however was more lopsided than the play on the field, and the Andover team went into halftime confident that together they could play better lacrosse and turn the tide. And they did just that as they played inspired lacrosse in the third quarter and netted three unanswered goals bringing the score to 7-4, before Deerfield was forced to take a time out to slow Andover’s momentum. In the fourth quarter, with the score holding at 8-5, the Andover offense possessed the ball smartly and had numerous chances in tight but managed to hit the pipe and the goalie but not the back of the net. Down three goals in the final four minutes the Andover defense was forced to extend on the Deerfield attack and attempted numerous times to double the ball and force a turnover. Unfortunately Deerfield handled the late pressure well and scored two quick goals in the final minutes to extend the lead and put the game out of reach.
The outcome was certainly not what the Andover team had hoped for and while the slow start was, once again, a cause for some concern, the second half showcased the skill, strength and character of the Big Blue. Down by six at halftime against a very good opponent, Andover could have folded but instead, lead by senior captains Matt Ward and Matt Yeager, the team responded to play some of its best lacrosse of the season. In the second half the offense played quality, possession lacrosse and moved the ball creatively and effectively. Pat Curtin (1 goal, 2 assists) turned in a strong all-around performance, as did fellow attackman Kevin Gould (1 goal, 1 assist). In the midfield, Matt Ward was the man of the match as he took every single face-off and controlled the play from restraining line to restraining line. Fellow seniors Dylan Green (2 goals) and Khaki Burke also played well as did a healthy Zack Johnson (1 goal) who returned to form to give the Deerfield defense fits. Despite a bit of a shaky start, the Andover defense played a tough, aggressive second half and limited one of the best offenses in New England to only three goals while forcing twice as many turnovers. Goalie Sean Aaron turned in another strong performance between the pipes.    
Andover goes south on Wednesday for another road game against a very tough Tabor team.

4/26/2006 Holderness Edges PA Lax 5-2
Under sunny NH skies and atop a great new field turf surface, the Andover Boys Varsity Lacrosse team struggled to find enough energy, enthusiasm and courage to overcome a strong Holderness squad. The difficult Wednesday travel schedule seemed to take its toll on the boys, and the Big Blue never really got going. Holderness played good, smart lacrosse especially on the defensive end and put the Andover attack on its heels. The team did well to posses the ball but on numerous occasions could not come up with the key pass or the key catch to finish plays on goal. Defensively, Andover played well as a unit but the Holderness attack made some key plays down the stretch and put the game out of reach in the 4th quarter. Khaki Burke continued to play well and scored early for Andover. Ben Weiner added the second and last Andover goal later in the first half. Andover travels to western Massachusetts on Saturday to play perennial powerhouse Deerfield.

4/22/2006 Laxmen Play Strong Game Against Hyde 
The Andover Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team defeated a good, young Hyde team 12-7 on Saturday in Phelps Stadium. The Big Blue jumped out to an early lead and took control of the game late in the 2nd quarter. Heading into the last frame, Andover held a commanding 12-3 lead, but the boys from Hyde refused to quit and made an impressive late run in the final minutes to close the game with four unanswered goals. Despite committing too many penalties, Andover played a solid game overall and moved the ball well on offense. The attack group of Kevin Gould, Pat Curtin, Peter McCarthy, John Bukawyn and Colin Serafino played well all day and kept the pressure on the Hyde defense with smart possessions, good off-ball movement and some nifty passing. As usual the midfielders brought great effort and energy and out-worked the Hyde squad between the restraining lines. Senior captain Matt Ward was dominant on face-offs and fellow senior midfielder Khaki Burke put together his best all-around game of the season with two goals, two assists and great overall work in the clearing game. Midfielder Justin Kanter scored the first varsity goal of his career off of a strong dodge and shot from up top while long-stick midfielder Yoni Gruskin lead the team in ground balls for the second straight game. The Big Blue was a bit shorthanded on defense, but the starting unit, lead by seniors Mason Fried and Spencer Johnson, stepped up and played great team lacrosse, limiting a good Hyde attack to relatively few quality scoring chances – especially in the first half. Nick Anschuetz, Eamon Hegarty and 9th grader Theo Lederfine-Pascal all contributed solid defensive efforts in the win and Andover got another good effort between the pipes from Goalies Sean Aaron and Spencer Rice. The team travels to New Hampshire on Wednesday seeking a little revenge in a key match-up against a good Holderness team.
 

4/15/2006 Boys Lax Rolls over Tilton
Under sunny skies in Tilton, NH the Andover Boys Lacrosse team secured its first road win of the season (16-8) with a strong second half performance against a tough Tilton squad. The game was back and forth through the first two quarters as Andover seemed to play without a sense of urgency and with relatively little enthusiasm. To their credit, the boys from Tilton came out excited and, at the same time, poised. For the first half they played solid two-way lacrosse, particularly exposing the Andover defense in transition and capitalizing on Andover’s numerous unforced turnovers.
Fortunately, Andover picked up the intensity in the second half and the defense finally put together some solid stands in front of goalie Sean Aaron. In the midfield, Andover began winning the battle for the ground balls and suddenly the Andover offense was clicking on all cylinders - running and gunning in transition and possessing in settled situations. Sophomore midfielder Zack Johnson had a great game netting four goals and connecting for assists on a few others. The attack was lead by senior Kevin Gould who posted an impressive (and sneaky) seven goal effort while Pat Curtin put together his best all around game  with 3 goals, 2 assists and an aggressive riding performance.
The Andover players and coaches thank the Tilton team and parents for their generous hospitality throughout and with a good second half effort, full bellies, and a few days off, the big blue left the great state of NH excited about some rest and relaxation. The boys return to business on Wednesday against a powerful Brewster Academy squad at home.  

4/12/2006 Overtime Victory for Boys Lax
The Andover Boys Varsity Lacrosse team squeaked out a victory over a tough NMH squad in overtime at Phelps Stadium. The game was a little sloppy on both ends of the field with neither team able to establish much in the way of consistent play. Unforced errors and lost ground balls haunted the Andover squad, in particular. Offensively, the Big Blue had a hard time settling the ball and playing possession lacrosse as the NMH defense applied plenty of pressure. Unfortunately, the team relied too heavily on individual performances and seemed to abandon the solid team effort that brought them a win against Bridgton last week. On the other hand, attackman Pat Curtin was able to continue his scoring ways and finished the game with 5 goals on the day, including the game-winner in overtime after a great save from Spencer Rice, a great clear from Matt Ward, and a no-look assist from Kevin Gould. Defensively Andover played well, but had a hard time finishing plays, picking up the grounders and clearing the ball. To their credit, NMH battled in the midfield and played good transition lacrosse. Goalies Sean Aaron and Spencer Rice played well between the pipes, but on this day defenseman Jake Edwards ended the day with the game hat as he played tough on-ball defense, took a key face off, and saved a breakaway goal with a last second stick check. Andover plays Saturday at Tilton. The game starts at 2:30 PM and the boys in Blue look to continue their winning ways, but, more importantly, hope to play at a higher level and play better as a unit.

4/8/2006 Laxmen Earn Big Win over Bridgton Wolverines
The Andover Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team took a giant step forward on Saturday with a 6-4 upset victory over Bridgton Academy. Bridgton arrived boasting multiple division one recruits and tried early to intimidate the boys in Blue with their age and their size, but Andover stuck to its game plan and played tough, smart, team lacrosse throughout. Offensively the team turned in a great all around effort playing with poise and frustrating the Bridgton defense with solid possessions each time down the field. Kevin Gould, Pat Curtin and John Bukawyn all posted multiple goals and assists. Gould led all scorers with 2 goals and 2 assists.  The midfield pitched in with a great overall effort as Captain Matt Ward and Khaki Burke set the tone with their hard work between the restraining lines. Burke added a nifty goal on a great individual effort and other offense middies Dylan Green and Zack Johnson played smart possession lacrosse and were instrumental in the clearing game. On the defensive end Andover held a very powerful Bridgton attack to only four goals with a smart, aggressive defensive scheme. The defensive middies were relentless in their effort as Justin Lee, Tony Christiano, Steve Bury, and Hunter (Hero) Thunell battled the Bridgton attackers all day long. Long stick middies Yoni Gruskin and Eamon Hegarty had the daunting task of trying to contain some athletic Bridgton midfielders and did so admirably. Closer to the goal Captain Matt Yeager turned in another all-star performance taking Bridgton Academy’s top attacker (reportedly committed to Syracuse) out of the offense and forcing him into multiple turnovers. Spencer Johnson and Jake Edwards (gutting out a very sore hamstring injury) contained their attackers as well with Edwards coming up with some great take-away checks when Andover needed important defensive stops. And while the game hat could have gone to the entire defense, in the end goalie Sean Aaron walked out of the locker with it on his head. Aaron has picked up right where he left off last season and has turned in three great games to the start the season. This one though was clearly his best. In the first half especially he kept the game close with great save after great save and helped settle the defense.

The entire team, from starters to reserves to the wounded warriors on the sideline, deserves credit for a most impressive effort. Andover came in with a plan of attack and the boys executed it almost flawlessly and played with an uncommon spirit and positive energy throughout. It was a pleasure to watch. In addition, the team and the coaches appreciate the great support from fans, family and friends and hope to continue to play good lacrosse in the weeks ahead.

4/6/2006 Boys Lacrosse Doubles Up Brooks
Andover’s match against Brooks was snowed out on Wednesday but the two teams met on Thursday at Andover under clear skies and spring-like temperatures. The two teams battled closely through the first two quarters with neither team setting much of a tone on offense or defense. Andover finally kicked it into high gear late in the third and into the fourth quarter and pulled ahead on the shoulders of attackman Patrick Curtin. Curtin finished the day with five goals and two assists and proved to be too much for the Brooks defenders. Sophomore attackman John “Bucky” Bukawyn walked out of the locker room with the game hat for his overall efforts offensively and in the riding game. Bucky turned in the sequence of the game as he followed a nifty top corner rip with a tenacious ride in which he stripped a Brooks defender of the ball and set up Curtin on the doorstep for a fast break goal. On defense the team looked a little ragged and out of synch early but started to communicate better and slide as a group in the second half. Matt Yeager, Nick Anschuetz and Spencer Johnson played well late in the game and goalie Sean Aaron came up with some big saves when the Big Blue needed them most. All in all, the 10-5 final score reflected a good win, and the team hopes that it can improve across the board and play good lacrosse on Saturday against a very powerful Bridgton Academy team.    

4/1/2006 Nobles Edges Boys Lacrosse
 The Andover Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team did not start the season as planned. On a suddenly wet and windy day, the Big Blue struggled to find their rhythm against an active Nobles team and came away on the losing end of a 5-4 score. The game looked very much like the first game of the season as both teams struggled with fundamental skills. The ball ended up in the mud for much of the game, and unfortunately Andover proved weak on tough groundball situations. Offensively, senior attackman Kevin Gould lead Andover with three goals and Patrick Curtin added the fourth But the Andover attack as a whole was out of synch all day and turned the ball over far too many times to be successful. Defensively, Andover held the Nobles offense in check with returning starters Jake Edwards and Matt Yeager playing tough, aggressive defense. Sean Aaron turned in a solid performance in goal with some great late-game saves. However, as a team Andover was unable to finish the job in the defensive end and struggled clearing the ball throughout the contest. Luckily it is only the first game, and the team and the coaches hope to rebound and play better and more inspired lacrosse in the upcoming weeks. The team thanks all those that braved the elements inside Phelps Stadium and remains upbeat about the 2006 season.