Vacation week provides a perfect opportunity for elite lacrosse programs to engage in close games, tasting a bit of the competition that they might find in June when the state tournament begins.
Tuesday afternoon, defending D2 state champion and host Reading made the most of a test against three-time D1 finalist BC High, and prevailed in an 11-10 overtime thriller, courtesy of a Cullen Granara to Nate Mulvey feed, on the first day of the annual Players Cup.
Reading (5-0), ranked 12th in the Globe Top 20, will take on North Andover (1-3) in the second round of the tournament Thursday.
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“Our nonleague schedule is really tough,” said Reading coach Rob Parkin, who took over this year after nine years as an assistant under Charlie Hardy.
“We play some of the best teams in the state. We want to make sure we get battle tested so our guys are ready when the [state] tournament comes around.”
The Rockets opened the day with a goal from Mulvey on a pass from Granara behind the cage, and closed the action with the same tandem, as Mulvey finished with five goals and Granara handed out his third assist to go along with two goals.
No. 2 BC High (3-1) fell behind, 7-4, in the third quarter, but Marshall Rice (4 goals) and others led a quick charge to climb back for a 10-8 lead in the fourth. Mulvey provided a quick-stick goal off a rebound and Granara scored to tie it, 10-10, after Reading’s ride forced a turnover. Ryan Fox made 17 saves for the Rockets.
“We’re not afraid to battle right down to the end,” Parkin said. “We talk about giving our blood, sweat, and tears right to the end and our guys did that today.”
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