Under the guidance of head coach John Mulavney, the Holliston boys' lacrosse team has continuously advanced into the State Tournament. During his 9-year tenure as the boys' coach, Holliston has been to 8 tournaments. The only time they didn't advance was the COVID year in which everything was cancelled. Unfortunately, the Panthers have had trouble getting past that first game. Over the last two seasons Holliston posted back-to-back 12-6 regular season records, and as is the case, they were defeated in their first game of the Division 3 tournament. Last year as the 16 seed, Holliston lost to North Middlesex regional 13-7 and this year, playing as the 23 seed, they were defeated 9-3 by Oakmont regional.

"We've been stuck on 12 and haven't been able to get that 13th win," the Panther Coach said. "I believe that only one team has done so in the history of Holliston boys' lacrosse and that was some time ago."

The team seems to have everything in place to be successful, but Mulvaney believes the biggest obstacle is the team's strength of schedule. If Holliston is to get past that first game, the Coach firmly believes that they need to improve it. While upping their strength of schedule during the regular season will help with their tournament seedings, it most likely will affect their wins.

"While I am already excited about next year, I will be making sure that we play a much tougher schedule , so we may not be able to get that 13th win," Mulvaney said. "However, we should have a much better ranking in the playoffs."

Junior goalie Sawyer Kelly has been a very important piece to Holliston's regular season success. According to the Panther coach, Kelly was one of the best goalies in the league this year and will be the best next year.

"He is an unbelievable athlete that has made some great saves for us this year," he said. "As a year-round player for high level teams, he brings an inspiring play to the high school field. I've had a number of coaches comment on his play after games."

Kelly posted a 68 % save percentage this spring and found himself behind one or two other goalies with only a one percentage point, if that, higher than his. He wants to take his talents to the collegiate level.

Another junior who has been instrumental to Holliston's play this year was Ethan Anastasia. A lacrosse player who can do just about anything you ask of him on the field, he tallied 40 goals this spring for the Panthers.

"It really didn't surprise me that he was able to score 40," Mulvaney said. "The only time he comes off the field is when I yell at him to do so; he has an engine that never quits."

While Anastasia was putting the ball in the net 40 times this past season, another junior, Owen MacLoud, was able to deposit the ball into the back of the goal 44 times from his attack position, numbers his coach expected as MacLoud has played for Holliston since his freshman year. MacLoud is a left-handed shooter, a very valuable asset to be able to play from that side of the field, while having a natural shot.

One final junior who took to the field for Holliston this spring was Paul McGrath, who never missed a practice or a game.

"He is an athlete that is not only fearless, but he also brings a physical presence to his game," the coach said. "He also plays football, and at 6'3" and 215 pounds, he's a big guy on the field and makes the players around him less afraid."

Holliston not only had a bunch of talented juniors gracing its roster, but two freshman also made a name for themselves: attack Kyle Fetrow and Eli Boggess.

Fetrow actually started the season with the junior varsity squad, when Mulvaney happened to see him during a practice and realized that the game was much too easy for him on the JV level. The Coach immediately had him start practicing with the varsity team, and the freshman would end the year with around 20 goals, including one game where he netted four.

Boggess, according to his coach, is probably the best lacrosse player ever to go through Holliston. Mulvaney noticed the midfielder at tryouts almost immediately.

"He was mature for his age, had stick skills, a high lacrosse IQ and could score," Mulvaney said. "I think that he is going to be someone who will continue to develop and improve his games skills each year, getting exponentially better.

Although Mulvaney will be losing a total of four starters, only two, Grady Lucas and captain Alex Robie, started. Robie wouldn't see all that much playing time since he got injured early in the season and only got into two or three games. He may have been hurt , but the Panther captain made it a point to attend each and every practice and game to support his team while offering advice.

The rest of the team will be back on the field as well as some new freshman - all ready to make a statement, next spring.

"My ultimate goal is to get that first win in the tournament, and move onto the second round," the Panther coach said. "One, we get there. Win, another."