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Cranx Lose in PVLL Semi-Final 19-10

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

Aug 3, 2006

 

    (Somers) The Westfield Cranx season came to an end Thursday night, as top-seeded and undefeated Shocker of Connecticut beat the fifth-seeded Cranx 19-10 in the Pioneer Valley Lacrosse League semifinals at Pinney Field.  
    As well as the Cranx played in their quarterfinal win against South Hadley, they could not sustain that same level of play, as Shocker dominated time of possession, shots on goal, and face-off X.  This night, Westfield picked a bad night to have a bad game.

    
    "Nothing seemed to go right with our play tonight" said player/coach Chris Roberts.  "They are a better team than us skill-wise, but we didn't help ourselves much either."  What Robo meant was, for the Cranx to have a chance against the league's powerhouse, they needed to play exceptionally well to have a chance for the W.  That didn't happen.  Shocker's offense looked like a well-oiled machine, making Cranx defenders look like Linda Blair in The Exorcist, spinning their heads around constantly, trying to locate the movement of the ball within the Shocker offense.  A task that proved to be too tough.  "They move the ball so well, it seemed we were always a step or two slow the entire game.  Most of their goals were off assists, and most of them Hoff (goalie Matt Hoffman) had no chance to save." said Robo.

    The game started with that Shocker offense tallying the first three scores.  Finally, the Cranx got on the board, with Adam Cherry blistering a goal to make it 3-1.  Two minutes later, a Cranx goal was nullified because of a procedure violation, and instead of a 3-2 deficit, it quickly became a 4-1 deficit, as Shocker fastbreaked a goal after that call.  The Cranx would never get any closer.  It appeared that for every goal Westfield could score, the home team would score one or two goals in response.  
    "We just couldn't stop them" said Cranx captain John Funaro.  "And when we did get possession, we made too many mistakes, not allowing ourselves more scoring chances.  We didn't help our cause at all."  Nor did the officiating help either.  Funaro, normally a player who epitomizes good sportsmanship, was charged with a conduct penalty in the first quarter.  "He (official Parker Simons) is just awful--he doesn't know half the rules" said Funaro.  "He needs to do everybody a favor and just quit.  He needs to be deported to Guam, or anywhere far, far away."  After one quarter, Shocker led 5-2, and carried an 11-5 lead into halftime. 

    The Cranx played Shocker even in the third quarter, each team scoring four times, but Westfield was never able to chip into the lead.  Any hope at decreasing that 15-9 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter quickly vanished as Shocker continued to dominate face-offs and possession, scoring two more goals, making it 17-9.  One of the few Cranx highlights came from longstick midfielder Jim Crean, who scooped and cleared a loose ball and assisted on Cherry's third goal of the night, Westfield's only fourth quarter score, making it 17-10.  Two late Shocker tallies made the final 19-10.  Roberts, Funaro, and Jay Vantassle each scored a pair of goals, while Hoffman, who had an assist in the game, made 10 saves in the net.
    
    Shocker (15-0) will meet Glastonbury (13-2) in the Pioneer Valley Lacrosse League championship game next Tuesday.  Glasonbury got by Wilbraham 8-7 in the other semifinal match-up.
     
    "It's too bad we had to lose this badly to end the season" said Hoffman.  "We had a pretty good season.   I think we surprised a lot of people.  We definitely surprised South Hadley and the other teams that didn't think we'd get to the semifinals."  
    Rookie midfielder Zach Sondrini agreed.  "Overall, we had a successful season.  It was great joining Cranx Nation.  Being a part of this franchise--I wouldn't want to play with any other team.  It's a great fit for me."  As well as for the Cranx.  Sondrini, Cherry's WNEC teammate and recruit, was the team's top scoring midfielder this season.  Hopefully many more years of a Cranx/Sondrini marriage lie ahead  

    The Cranx finished the 2006 season with an overall record of 10-5, placing them 4th out of 14 teams in the PVLL.  So, what's in store for the Cranx future?  Coach Roberts answers:  "We've always been on the cusp of the championship.  We'll try to get a couple more recruits, but first and foremost, we're a Westfield team.  We will always have a predominance of Westfield guys, that's how we like it.  We'll get there. We'll win it all soon."  
    A close to a pretty good 2006 season, the Westfield Cranx will be back in 2007.  Better, hungrier, and once again with eyes on the prize: the PVLL championship trophy.  Now, the countdown to next season begins.......313 days 'til then. 

Westfield        2    3    4    1
Shocker          5    6    4    4

Scoring
Goals:        Cherry 3, Roberts 2, Vantassle 2, Funaro 2, Sondrini
Assists:      Sondrini 3, Cherry, Bonavita, Roberts, Funaro, Hoffman, Crean

                                                                    CRANX CORNER      
For the third straight year, the Cranx have made it to the PVLL semifinals.....Hated 2-year former Crank Mark Chilicki plays on Shocker.....The Cranx will petition the league to ban referee Parker Simons from officiating any future Westfield games.....Most of the team congregated at The Still after the game, shaking hands and signing autographs for the Cranx faithful.....The 3rd annual Cranx/Bomber alumni game will be September 23rd, followed by a get together at The Show in Westfield.  Stay logged on to westfieldcranx.com for future information.....    

by Buck Naeked

WC Times
Aug 1, 2006

 

    (South Hadley) After an unimpressive win last week against Agawam, and a 13-4 regular season loss earlier in the season to South Hadley, the Westfield Cranx were clearly the underdog in their rematch with South Hadley.  But this time there was more at stake.  And this time the Cranx played better, and harder, and smarter.  The result was an 8-7 overtime victory Tuesday night in the first round of the PVLL playoffs.  The win sends fifth-seeded Westfield (10-4) into the PVLL semifinals against top-seeded and undefeated Shocker (14-0) Thursday at Pinney Field/Elm Knoll Farm in Somers.

    "This was a game we knew we had to execute way better than the first time we played them" said player/coach Chris Roberts.  "The first game we couldn't throw, we couldn't catch, we couldn't hit a bull's ass with a baseball bat.  Tonight was a different story."  
    Indeed it was.  The Cranx played great defense, cleared very well, and picked apart South Hadley's zone defense, things they didn't do the first time out.

    The game didn't start well, however, as fourth-seeded South Hadley went up 2-0, dominating possession early.  Zach Sondrini finally got the Cranx on the board, firing in a lazer top shelf off a feed from Roberts.  After Westfield gave up a man-down goal, Roberts next hit Jay Vantassle who also went top shelf, closing out the first quarter with South Hadley leading 3-2.  "They were so cocky", said Vantassle after the game.  "They were kind of laughing at us, thinking they were gonna' blow us out.  That made me angry.  You don't want to make me angry."
    Vantassle tied the game at 3-3 off an Adam Cherry assist in the second quarter.  But possession still much belonged to the home team, as Cranx goalie Matt Hoffman withstood a barage of shots, making several terrific saves.  South Hadley did score twice more, and led 5-3 at the half.

    Angered by a no-call crosscheck to the neck, Vantassle scored his third goal of the game in the third, and Roberts later scored the Cranx other third quarter goal.  But the difference in the second half was the Westfield defense.  And Hoffman.
    "Hoff played great tonight", said defenseman Hank Casagrande.  "He saved our asses more than a few times."  Hoffman, who finished the game with 13 saves, and the stellar defense of Casagrande, Geoff Moore, and Pat Levesque, helped allow only two goals in the second half.  
    "I think (midfielder Nick) Bonavita and (LSM Rich) Borsari are our two biggest keys in our defensive play" said captain John Funaro.  "They both are so good with their footwork.  They were huge tonight."  Borsari, who finished with eight take-aways, repeatedly took the milk money from South Hadley's top midfielder, a Division I Navy player.  

    South Hadley would score quickly to start the fourth, making it 7-5.  At the seven minute mark, and with a man advantage, Cherry found Funaro at X, who dipped & dunked in a goal, cutting the lead to one.  After several Westfield defensive plays, Borsari scooped up a loose ball in the defensive end, created a fast break, found Funaro, who found Cherry, who found the back of the net with a rocket-shot, knotting the game at 7-7.  With 3:20 still left to play, the Cranx defensive wall came through again, allowing no South Hadley openings or clean shots, and forcing overtime.

    GCT member Anthony Spagnoli wrestled free the overtime faceoff, and everywhere-man Borsari scooped up possession.  After a timeout, Funaro (2 goals, 3 assists) carried the ball to X looking to feed.  With top guns Cherry and Vantassle being overplayed by South Hadley's zone defense, Funaro circled X and stuffed home the game winner, finalizing the game at 8-7.
    "Everybody played well tonight" said Funaro after the game.  "Everybody played their role--this was a total team effort."
    Cranx alum Dave Metcalf, who was a spectator at the game, concurred.  "This was one of the best games I've seen this team play in a long time.  They (South Hadley) are a really good team.  Everybody played great.  Hoff made some sick saves--and the offense moved the ball really well."

    As the visiting team celebrated, and the home team walked off the field, with their Umass, SC, Navy, and Holy Cross helmets in hand, beaten and with egos bruised, the Cranx quickly got to thinking about their next game.  The Cranx lost 9-7 in their first meeting with Shocker, and they know the challenge is a big one.  So, after an upset win Tuesday night, do the Cranx have it in them for one more?
    "Obviously it will be tough", said Spagnoli.  "But who knows, there's always a chance.  I mean, Kid Rock got Pamela Anderson to marry him, right? which shows that anything is possible."  Good point, Spags.  And lest we forget, Mr. Spagnoli has scored this season...twice!  
    Yes indeed, anything is possible.  

Westfield            2    1    2    2    1
South Hadley      3    2    1    1    0

Scoring

Goals:      Vantassle 3, Funaro 2, Sondrini, Roberts, Cherry
Assists:     Funaro 3, Roberts 2, Cherry 2

Goalie Saves  
Hoffman:   13

                                                               CRANX CORNER
For the second straight game, Westfield's only lead was their last goal.....The Cranx are 3-0 in one-goal games this season.....Defenseman Mike Burque (DL) served as sideline coach last night.....Thanks and kudos to Mr & Mrs Cherry, who brought a cooler of Gatorade for the whole team.....The Cranx fanclub was in full support at South Hadley, with an estimated 21 spectators making the trip.....Cranx alumni Dave Metcalf, Mark Cavallon, and Paul Jones were in attendance..... Defenseman Chris Paige was a no-show for the game.  Apparently he caught the "Lindsay Lohan Flu".

 

 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 27, 2006

 

    (Westfield) The Westfield Cranx showed up for their final regular season game, but in collective body only.  The team members were there alright, they even took the field in full equipment.  But on this night, any sign of this Cranx team being the competitive, hard-nosed team it's known for, was simply an aberration.  This was not the display of a team ready to make any serious bid at winning any games in the PVLL playoffs.  The result: an escaping 9-8 win over a young and frail 2-11 Agawam team. 

    "We didn't deserve to win this ballgame", an angry Chris Roberts said.  "Nobody came to play.  Everyone thought we would kill this team, so everyone came in without any motivation.  We're going to get our asses beat badly Tuesday if we don't change our attitude."

    
    Westfield (9-4) will play at South Hadley in the first round of the PVLL playoffs on Tuesday.  The fifth seeded Cranx lossed badly to fourth-seeded South Hadley early in the regular season 13-4.  
    
    "I'm not happy with our play tonight", continued Robo.  "Nobody played well.  Nobody played hard.  (John) Funaro, (Zach) Sondrini, Hoff (Matt Hoffman), (Chris) Paige, you can go right down the list.  The Westfield 8th grade team plays better than how we played tonight."  Fortunately for Westfield, two late fourth quarter goals tied the game and gave them their only lead of the game, their ninth goal being scored by Roberts with 1:20 left.

    Agawam took a 5-3 lead into halftime and led 6-5 after three quarters.  Adam Cherry scored early in the fourth to tie the score before Agawam quickly answered with one of their own to take the lead back at 7-6.  Jay Vantassle scored his second goal of the game with his patented behind-the-back shot to tie it at 7-7, where it remained for much of the fourth.  A man-up goal then gave Agawam the lead at 8-7, which they held until just over three minutes left in the game.  
    Again a man-down, GCT member Matty Richards cleared the ball and made the cerebral play of hanging onto the ball and running out the penalty clock, allowing the Cranx to get back to full strength.  Richards next handed the ball off to Funaro, who found Sondrini open in the crease, where he promptly found the back of the net to tie the score at 8-8.  On Westfield's next possession, it was Funaro once again drawing a teammate's man and then dumping the ball off.  Roberts smartly found the opening, took the pass, and swiftly fired in the game winner.  Agawam was unable to get a shot off in their final possession. 
    Cherry finished the game with three goals, while Roberts, Sondrini, and Vantassle each had a pair.  
    
    "We barely got out of here alive", said goalie Hoffman who totalled 12 saves.  "We can't play this badly against South Hadley".  Such was much of the sentiment of all the Cranx players after the game.  "I'm embarrassed by our play tonight" said defenseman Paige.  "Here we have all these loyal Cranx fans coming to see our game, and we can't even perform for them.  We should apologize to them.  If we had sold tickets to get into this game, we would've refunded their money." 

    With sights now focused on South Hadley, the Cranx hope to put their poor effort against Agawam behind them, but not the lesson learned.  "We know what we can't do" said Roberts.  "We can't have one moment of depleted intensity or motivation when we play on Tuesday.  We were awful the first game we played them, and awful tonight.  That can't be the case Tuesday.  I won't allow it."
    Strong words from the player/coach.  Time will tell which Cranx team will show up against South Hadley.  Will it be the cocky, unmotivated team that showed up for Agawam, or will it be the team that usually defines what Cranx Power is all about: intense, focused, smart, and physical.  That question will be answered Tuesday night.

Agawam        2    3    1    2
Westfield       1    2    2    4

Scoring

                                                    
                                                               CRANX CORNER

   
 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 25, 2006

 

    (Northampton)  Behind the offensive firepower of Zach Sondrini and the all-around play of Nick Bonavita, the Westfield Cranx won their fifth straight game Tuesday night, beating Northampton 11-7.  Sondrini was unstoppable, blistering the nets for five goals while assisting on two others.  Jay Vantassle once again had a multi-goal game himself, tallying four scores while John Funaro added a goal and four assists.  With the win, it appears the Cranx (8-4) have solidified a fifth place finish and a fifth seed for the PVLL playoffs which begin next Tuesday night.  Westfield still has one more regular season game left, against Agawam Thursday night, at Cranx Alumni Field in Westfield.

   

    While Sondrini and company took care of things on the offensive end, it was the play of midfielder Bonavita that propelled the Cranx throughout.  "Nick did everything for us tonight", said Funaro.  "He won faceoffs, got looseballs, cleared the ball, played great D.  He was all over the place." 

    Being one of the infamous Goal Challenged Trio, Bonavita is not relied upon to put the ball in the net.  But according to Funaro, "he's valuable in so many other ways.  He's the consummate blue-collar player." 

 

    Against Northampton (6-6), the Cranx started strong and finished strong, outscoring their opponent 7-1 in the first and fourth quarters.  It looked as if the Cranx would have an easy night of it, as they rattled off the first four goals of the game, including a sweet no look, over the shoulder lazer by Sondrini.  But the 4-0 lead after one quarter quickly evaporated, as Hamp answered with four straight goals of their own, knotting the score at 4-4.  After a timeout and a tongue-lashing about playing better defense by player/coach Chris Roberts, the Cranx responded.  Tightening up on defense led to two Vantassle goals, bringing a halftime score of 6-4 in favor of Westfield.  

    Northampton would get as close as 6-5, 7-6, and 8-7, but would never again tie the score or lead in the game.  Sondrini, Vantassle, and Paul Fenwick would score the last three goals of the game, making it 11-7, and the defense of Hank Casagrande, Chris Paige, and Bonavita took care of the rest.  Goalie Matt Hoffman made several terrific saves in the game, totalling 13.  
    
    "We're starting to put everything together pretty well" said Roberts.  "Offensively and defensively, these last five games we've improved a lot.  We've become a pretty balanced team."  That balance is probably best evidenced by last night's scoring being done by players besides leading scorer, Adam Cherry.  For the first time this season, Cherry was held without a goal, as Northampton's defense keyed on the WNEC All-American, knocking him to the ground with double and triple teams all night.  "Adam's got to learn to read the defense better" said Sondrini, his WNEC teammate.  "I try to tell him that he's got to pass me the ball more, and before the double-teams come."  
    
    With the win against Hamp, and even with a sixth straight win against Agawam Thursday, a potential 9-4 final regular season record will not be good enough for the Cranx to earn a first round home playoff game.  Of the eight playoff teams, the top four-seeded teams will play at home.  Westfield looks as though they will be seeded fifth.

                                                                      Cranx Corner

 

    
 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times
July 20, 2006

    (Longmeadow)  In the game of lacrosse, it's usually the offense that gets the most attention and grabs the headlines.  But more often than not, it's the defense that dictates the success of a team.  And it was Westfield's dominating defense that totally smothered and disarmed the Longmeadow offense, leading the Cranx to a convincing 14-3 win Thursday night, extending their winning streak to four games. 
    
    Led by close defenders Chris Paige, Geoff Moore, and Pat Levesque, Longmeadow could get nothing going, often getting stripped, knocked down, or at most forced into only ineffective shots.  Goalie Matt Hoffman needed only to make ten saves, as his defense refused to allow any offensive penetration.  Consequently, the Cranx outshot Longmeadow 35-19, even though Longmeadow had more time of possession during the game.  
    "Our defense was outstanding tonight", said player/coach Chris Roberts.  "They played their best game so far, especially our man-down.  Hopefully this will continue the rest of the way."  
    
    But it wasn't just the close defenders that stood out.  Longpole midfielders Mike Getto, Rich Borsari, and Jim Crean took more candy away from the Longmeadow midfielders than trick-or-treaters do on Halloween night.  The three made the take-away & clearing game look as easy as one, two, three: strip, scoop, and clear.  The defensive highlight of the night came when Borsari scooped up a loose ball in the defensive end, snake-dodged and spun between two would-be Longmeadow stoppers, causing the two to miss him and instead crush each other.  Borsari then continued on his way with a grin, starting a fastbreak.  "That play was the highlight of the season so far",  said teammate Moore.  "It was an incredible move.  Those two Longmeadow guys just wrecked each other."
    Midfielder Nick Bonavita, short-stick defensive specialist, also stood out on the defensive end.  Rarely allowing his man to beat him, Bonavita sees his role as a challenge he welcomes.  "I love when guys try to go one-on-one against me" says Bonavita.  "They see the short stick and think they have an advantage.  They quickly realize though, that I'm not a Spagnoli or a Richards.  That I can and will play good defense against you."

    After several minutes of scoreless play, and long Longmeadow possessions, the home team quickly put two goals in and were up 2-0 to start the game.  Westfield's first tally came when Chris Roberts made a perfect cross-crease pass to John Funaro who easily stuffed in a goal.  Zach Sondrini scored the other first quarter goal before the period ended, and after one the score was tied 2-2.  "We started a little slow there", said Roberts.  "They controlled possession and we rushed things too much when we did have the ball.  We talked about having better possessions at the break."
    To start the second, Adam Cherry scored his first of four goals, and then it was Roberts again feeding Funaro, this time with a long thirty yard pass for a one-on-one goal.  As the Westfield defense stifled Longmeadow's offense time and again, Jay Vantassle finally found the net, after missing his first six shots, when Roberts hit him in front with his third assist, making the score 5-3 which stood until halftime.  "I couldn't hit a beachball with a baseball bat", said Vantassle.  "But I was a little nervous tonight, I admit.  I felt like Michael Jordan going back to Chicago as a Washington Wizard."  Vantassle, a longtime Longmeadow resident and former Longmeadow Lancer standout, was once known for his Jordanesque numbers at a time long, long ago. 

    In the second half, it was all Cranx.  The defense was a wall.  And the offense really got on track, outscoring Longmeadow 9-1 while the frustration of the hometeam grew and grew.  Spats between teammates, whining to referees, trash-talking, and illegal checking was pervasive from the Longmeadow players throughout the second half.  "It was amazing how many cry babies they had on their team", stated head official Joe Nassar.  "Here, Westfield is kicking the crap out of them, and all they can do is argue and blame the officiating.  It's like, 'Hello--I'm not the one scoring fourteen goals against you!'"  One Longmeadow player was ejected for an uncontrollable potty mouth.  
    Cherry scored three goals while Roberts netted two in the second half, as Hoffman and his defense continued their stellar play on that end, as the final whistle blew for the 14-3 victory, and a Cranx team record of 7-4.  "We're in good shape" said Roberts.  "We have a tough game Tuesday at Northampton, and then against Agawam.  It would be great entering the playoffs if we can win out."  A tough last two games, no doubt.  But given how the Cranx defense has been playing, and the balanced attack of its offense, their are high hopes coming down the stretch to the remainder of the season.  

Westfield            2    3    5    4
Longmeadow     2    0    1    0 

Scoring

                                                        CRANX CORNER

                    

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 18, 2006

 

    (Westfield) The Westfield Cranx easily disposed of a young Greylock team Tuesday night 17-7, winning their third straight and the fourth of their last five games.  In the last three wins, the Cranx have beaten their opponents by a combined score of 50-15.  But before this winning streak could become something to brag about, Cranx player/coach Chris Roberts quickly put an end to that.  "We've also been beaten badly twice this season.  Winning is great, but the teams we've beaten these last three games are probably the three worst in the league, so there's nothing to get excited about."

    On this night, the Greylock team did their best, with only one sub the entire game, under heat that hovered in the 90's.  But their lack of depth and their inexperience never gave them a chance, as Westfield slowly pulled away, at one point leading 17-4.
    The Cranx mixed up their lineup throughout, with goalie Matt Hoffman playing attack most of the game and notching a hat trick.  Defensemen played midfield, attackmen played defense, middies played longpole, and Spagnoli and Bonavita drank beer.

    Along with Hoffman's three goals, Adam Cherry saw no reason to feel sorry for the weak and debilitated opponent, firing in four goals while adding a couple assists.  Zach Sondrini felt no sympathy either, notching three of his own.  Longpole midfielder Rich Borsari assisted on two goals while Pat Levesque had one of his own.  Mike Burque, who stepped in goal in the second quarter, made nine saves.

Greylock        2    0    1    4
Westfield        4    5    6    2

Scoring
Goals:    Cherry 4, Sondrini 3, Hoffman 3, Funaro 2, Somers 2, Vantassle, Roberts, Carpenter
Assists:    Cherry 2, Roberts 2, Borsari 2, Carpenter 2, Funaro, Levesque, Vantassle, Casagrande, Fenwick

Goalie Saves
 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 13, 2006

 

    (Westfield) The Westfield Cranx had little trouble with Franklin County Thursday night, easily disposing of the young ballclub, 16-4.  Led by Jay Vantassle's four goal, first quarter onslaught, the Cranx scored early and often, leaving Franklin with little doubt who was the better team on this night.  The visitors brought with them a respectable 5-4 record, however the experience and the offensive power of Westfield was a little too much for them to handle.

    Westfield scored five unanswered goals in the first quarter, before Franklin scored their first, making the game 5-1 after one.  Along with Vantassle's four, Zach Sondrini hopped aboard the Cranx Van to add the other goal.  At halftime, the Cranx brought their lead to 8-1, and led 13-2 after three quarters.  Vantassle finished with six goals, Sondrini with four, and Adam Cherry had three.  
    For the second time in as many games, Anthony Spagnoli scored a goal, given him two for the season thus far.  He now is the frontrunner in the race of the Goal Challenged Trio.  The GCT consists of Spagnoli, Matty Richards, and Nick Bonavita.  The three veterans have combined to score a total of three goals in nine games, Bonavita notching the other one, and Richards carrying a goose egg.  The three players have a bet amongst them as to whom will score the most goals this season.  So far, Spags' one goal lead appears to be more than enough, as Bonavita and Richards have each equally shown their total incapabilities of hitting the water from the ocean.

    Cranx goalie Matt Hoffman made made 15 saves before switching to play attack for much of the fourth quarter.  With backup goaltender Mike Burque nursing his 28th injury of the last three years spectating from the sidelines, Sondrini jumped in net to replace Hoffman.  Sondrini, nursing his own emotional wounds from his girlfriend, Jen, who recently dumped him, made one save while giving up two goals.

    The Cranx record now stands at 5-4, with their next home game on Tuesday the 18th against Greylock.  This game will be played at Westfield High School instead of Cranx Alumni Field at Westfield Boys/Girls Club.

Franklin County    1    0    1    2
Westfield                5    3    5    3

Scoring 
Goals:    Vantassle 6, Sondrini 4, Cherry 3, Roberts, Spagnoli, Fenwick
Assists:   Roberts 2, Funaro 2, Cherry

                                                                    CRANX CORNER 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 11, 2006

 

    (Westfield)  The Westfield Cranx had little trouble against Mad Dawg Tuesday night, easily beating the Connecticut team 17-4.  In a game delayed half an hour due to a lightning storm late in the second quarter, and as neighboring baseball teams ran like Chicken Little, the Cranxmen weathered the storm to come away with the victory.  Outshooting the visitors 36-19, Westfield had 11 players put the ball in the net, and its defense handled the rest.

   

    A slow first quarter produced a 4-2 Westfield advantage, which extended to 8-3 by halftime.  After taking off last Thursday's game for personal reasons, midfielder Zach Sondrini came back with a bang, scoring three first half goals.  Asked what his "personal reasons" were for missing the 15-3 loss to Glastonbury, Sondrini responded, "that's personal".

    Back also from his own one game hiatus, was Sondrini's WNEC teammate, Adam Cherry, who led the Cranx with four goals and two assists.  Cherry missed the Glastonbury game, choosing instead to vacation in Las Vegas.  With rumors swirling about Sondrini's girlfriend, Jen, going to Vegas with Cherry while Sondrini stayed home, Cherry flatly denied it:  "No way.  I went with a bunch of guys.  No girls at all.  I didn't even see any girls.  Are there girls in Vegas?"  Despite the denial, there did seem a palpible rift between the two roommates, both on and off the field.  At one point, Sondrini was heard bad-mouthing Cherry after the game, calling him a "slob" and "nuts". 

 

    Back on the field, Westfield coasted through the second half, outscoring Mad Dawg 9-1.  The Cranx defense wouldn't give their opponent any breathing room.  With Hank Casagrande and Chris Paige leaving Mad Dawg laundry all over the field, take-aways and flying sticks were the highlights du jour.  "It was raining hard today", said defenseman Mike Getto, "and not just from the sky.  Hank and Paiger were making sticks fall left and right."  
    
    Holding on to a 15-4 lead late in the fourth quarter, the Cranx were still looking for a knockout punch.  But who to throw it?  Enter Anthony Spagnoli.  "Spags", always given the green light on offense, put his pedal to the metal.  Isolating from the top left side, the speedy midfielder zigged, then zagged.  He figged, then fagged.  Then he beat not just his man, but the slide man as well, and peppered a rocket into the back of the net.  Making the score 16-4, the Cranx could now breathe easy, thanks to Spags.  It was the middie's first goal of the season, silencing Cranx pollsters who overwhelmingly (58%) predicted he would not score a goal all season.  Afterward, Spags answered his critics: "I'm more than just a scorer for this team.  I face-off, I pat my teammates on the (butt), I buy (beverages) for everyone after the game.  I'm a team player.  I'm a Crank." 

    The Cranx now stand at 4-4, with their second of a three game homestand Thursday night against Franklin County.

Scoring:

Hoffman  12 

               

  

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

July 6, 2006

 

    (Somers, Ct.) It's hard enough competing against one of the elite teams in the Pioneer Valley Lacrosse League, but it's that much harder when your team isn't at full strength.  Such was the case Thursday night, as a depleted Westfield team was totally outmatched by not only a talented club, but a deep one as well.  Glastonbury dominated the game from start to finish, slapping the visiting Cranx around every which way possible, reminiscent of Ivan Drago's 1985 fight against Apollo Creed.  The result:  a 15-3 shlacking.

    
    "We got beat at everything tonight", said player/coach Chris Roberts after the game.  "Face-offs, time of possession, shots, riding, clearing, offense, defense, you name it--they kicked our ass in every aspect of the game.  They even had prettier girlfriends than us.  That's just wrong."  
    Roberts was also displeased with several Crank no-shows.   Noticeably absent from last night's roster were WNEC poster boys Adam Cherry and Zach Sondrini.  Rumor had them out of state, carousing the Sin City strip of Vegas.  "We're not deep to begin with.  So missing those two obviously hurt us", stated an angered Roberts.  "I don't want just players on this team, I want teammates.  Whatever reason they have for missing this game, it's just not acceptable.  They've shown that their commitment and dedication to this team is subpar.  They owe us big time production the rest of the season.  That is if I let them continue playing." 

    The game began ugly, with Glastonbury having ball possession for 15 of the 20 minute first quarter, resulting in a 5-0 lead after one.  And it didn't any better from there.  At 6-0, the Cranx finally scored, as Roberts fed Jay Vantassle in the crease, making it 6-1.  The halftime score got to 9-1, as the Westfield offense couldn't hang on to the ball, and the Westfield defense couldn't stop anybody.  
    Both teams tallied twice in the third quarter.  Roberts finished off an assist from Paul Fenwick, and John Funaro found Nick Bonavita who ripped a hot lazer top shelf, making the score 11-3 after three.  Shut out in the fourth, and awful in their clearing game, Westfield allowed Glastonbury four more goals to make the final 15-3.  Mike Burque, who subbed in for goaltender Matt Hoffman late in the fourth, was the sole bright spot for the Cranx, making four saves while allowing just one goal.

    The Cranx midseason record now stands at 3-4, already one more loss than they had the entire season of 2005.  With a home game stretch of three games starting on Tuesday, Westfield needs to get their act together and start winning some games if they want to ensure themselves a playoff spot.  And they also need some teammates, not just players.

Westfield              0    1    2    0
Glastonbury        5    4    2    4

Scoring   

By Buck Naeked

WC Times

June 29, 2006

 

    (Wilbraham)  The Westfield Cranx had a poor defensive showing on Tuesday night, where they gave up a season high 16 goals in a 16-13 loss to Simsbury.  On Thursday night, it was the defense that stepped up its play, holding host Wilbraham to just six goals, as the Cranx snuck out a 7-6 win.  
    Cranx player/coach Chris Roberts stated "As badly as our defense played on Tuesday, tonight they played probably as well as they're capable of."  Geoff Moore, Pat Levesque, and Chris Paige paved the way, knocking down, double-teaming, and stripping any attackman trying to get to the cage.  Longstick midfielders Jim Crean and Rich Borsari added their braun to the defensive dominance, as well as combining for 12 clears.  Goalie Matt Hoffman was back to his standout form, making 13 stops while initiating several fastbreak clears.

    Roberts began the scoring early in the first quarter, slipping through a double team to put the Cranx on the board.  Zach Sondrini followed suit two minutes later, and a Jay Vantassle finish off an Adam Cherry assist quickly made the score 3-0 Westfield.  Next, John Funaro found Jim Carpenter for another tally, and the Cranx carried the 4-0 lead into the second quarter.  Behind the defensive wall that is Cranx, Hoffman saw only three shots on cage in the first, easily stopping each one.

    In the second quarter, the pace of the game slowed a bit, with each team scoring only once.  Sondrini's second goal of the day answered an earlier Wilbraham goal by Umass Minuteman Tim Balise, and the halftime score was 5-1 in favor of Westfield.
    "Even though we were in control of the game at that point, we still hadn't really delivered the knockout punch", a slightly disgruntled Roberts explained.  "And that continued for the rest of the game.  And it almost bit us in the ass." 

    What Roberts meant was, that the Wilbraham team kept fighting, and the Westfield team, not so much.  The result was Wilbraham outscoring the Cranx 5-2 in the second half.  Westfield's offense seemed to stall a bit, while Wilbraham goaltender Chris Keinath made 10 second half saves.  Adam Cherry notched those two goals for Westfield, while Balise and company kept chipping away at the other end.  
     
    With 2:20 left in the game, and Wilbraham down by one, the home team looked to their top guy.  Balise, who scored five of Wilbraham's six goals, took possession of the ball and attempted to get by the defensive wall of Geoff Moore.  Helped by two separate double teams by Paige and Borsari, Balise was forced into a bad shot and a turnover, and eventually had to give up the ball to a teammate to attempt a score.  No more shots were taken in those last two minutes of Wilbraham's possession, and the Cranx escaped the game with the 7-6 win.  Thanks mostly to it's defensive play.  
    
    Happy with the play of the whole defensive unit, including the midfielders, Paige, who missed Tuesday's game to go to the Red Sox game, said afterward:  "We played tough.  We played smart.  It's just lucky for us that I was here today.  Who knows what would've happened if I wasn't."  Hank Casagrande, who replaced Paige in Tuesday's game, and was not at this night's game, could not be reached for comment in response to Paige's obvious slight toward him. 

    The Cranx now stand at 3-3 with their next game next Thursday at Glastonbury, the team that eliminated them in the PVLL semifinal last season.  

Westfield        4    1    1    1
Wilbraham      0    1    2    3

Scoring  
Goals:      Sondrini 2,  Cherry 2, Roberts, Vantassle, Carpenter
Assists:    Roberts 2, Cherry, Funaro

Goalie Saves: Hoffman 13

 
CRANX CORNER
Defenseman Mike Burque sat out the game with an achilles injury.....Anthony Spagnoli won 9 of 13 face-offs.....Next Tuesday is an off day due to the July 4th holiday.....speaking of things that sparkle, Sondrini's girlfriend Jen, was looking very good on the Cranx sideline.

 

                                                                            

by Buck Naeked

WC Times
June 27, 2006

 

    (Westfield) Jay Vantassle and Adam Cherry torched the nets Tuesday night, scoring a combined 10 goals, but it still was not enough, as the Westfield Cranx and its poor defensive play showcased its deficiencies.  The result?  A 16-13 loss to Simsbury, a young and talented team playing in their first year in the Pioneer Valley Lacrosse League.

     Player/coach Chris Roberts summed up the game this way:  "It's often said that the best defense is a good offense.  Had we had the Umass offensive unit today, it still wouldn't have mattered.  That's how bad we were defensively."
    Even though the Cranx were within striking distance most of the game, the defensive unit of Hank Casagrande, Geoff Moore, Mike Getto, and Pat Levesque seemed dazed and confused much of the night, never making a key stop when it needed to.  "Guys were left wide open, slides were poorly executed", said Robo.  "They had our heads spinning like Linda Blair in The Exorcist. "  

    The first half of the game went back and forth, with five ties, ending in a 9-8 Simsbury lead.  Offensively for the Cranx, it was the Vantassle & Cherry show, as Vantassle scored four first half goals while Cherry had two goals and three assists.  Cherry's WNEC teammate, Zach Sondrini, scored the other two Westfield goals.  The killer, though, came late in the half.  With Westfield up 8-7, the visitors toasted the Cranx for the final two goals in the last 40 seconds to take the halftime lead, 9-8.  
    
    Two early third quarter Simsbury goals made the score 11-8, and the Cranx never recovered from the four-goal run.  "They dominated us at the face-off X and time of possession in the second half.  We scored well tonight, but we rarely played offense" explained Robo.  
    Defenseman Jim Crean went coast to coast to score in the third, and Vantassle and Cherry each scored a pair in the second half.  Vantassle finished with a career high six goals, and Cherry notched four goals and four assists.  Matt Hoffman played less than his typical stellar self, only making eight saves.  The Cranx (2-3) hope to bounce back at Wilbraham on Thursday night. 

Simsbury    5    4    5    2
Westfield    4    4    3    2

Scoring   
Goals:    Vantassle 6,  Cherry 4,  Sondrini 2,  Crean
Assists:  Cherry 4,  Funaro 2,  Roberts 
Saves: Hoffman 8

                                                                    CRANX CORNER

A season high crowd estimate of 24 came out to watch the game.....Defenseman Mike Burque, supposedly injured early in the game, instead of supporting his team from the sideline, watched from the spectator section.....The Cranx 2-3 record is the worst start in franchise history. 

 

                                                                          

   

by Buck Naeked

WC Times

June 22, 2006

 

    (East Longmeadow) The Killer Bees of East Longmeadow had little sting against the Westfield Cranx Thursday night, as the visiting Cranx slapped around the fearful Bees from the opening faceoff to the final whistle.  
    If 15-3 sounds like a lopsided score, it could have been a lot worse, but the Westfield team was gracious in their play, often allowing East Longmeadow potentially easy opportunities while playing at a down-shifted pace and intensity the entire game.  
    Player/coach Chris Roberts explained, "Vegas had us as minus 11-goal favorites, so all we wanted to do was beat the spread, avoid injuries, and head to (Rich) Borsari's for the postgame rage.  Everything went accordingly.  Everything except chicks at the rage.  Borsari said there would be some.  He lied."

 

    Knowing they had a superior team, the Cranx toyed with their lineup.  Team MVP and All-League goalie Matt Hoffman traded in the chest protector for a short stick and played attack.  Defensive captain Mike Burque jumped between the pipes.  The results:  Hoffman led the team in scoring, notching three goals while assisting on three more, and Burque made a terrific nine saves, good for a remarkable 75% save percentage for the day.  
    After the game, there was even talk amongst some of the players about maybe keeping the two at those same positions for next Tuesday's game against Simsbury.  But Robo quickly stifled the talk:  "Are you high?" was his response to that question, as he stormed off the field en route to the rage.  So much for a team of democracy.

    After the game, and after receiving well-deserved congratulations from their teammates, Burque and Hoffman were asked about their play.  
    "It was fun", said Hoffman.  "It's nice to be able to shoot instead of being shot on for once.  And all I know now is that this will be the third consecutive year that I'll total more goals than Spags (Anthony Spagnoli).  I'm just a little disappointed my girlfriend couldn't make it.  She could have seen first hand that I can actually score pretty well...at least on the lacrosse field."
    "I probably won't play goalie again this season, so playing this game, and making some saves, it was great", stated Burque.  I enjoyed it.  I also think I have less a chance of getting another concussion playing goalie instead of defense, so that's a plus."  

    The Cranx cruised into halftime with a 5-1 lead, and led 8-2 after three quarters.  Ten players entered the scoring column for Westfield, which improved its record to 2-2.  Adam Cherry had four goals and an assist, while Jay Vantassle added two goals.  
    
    The Cranx next game is home against Glastonbury at 6:15, with a field change.  This game will be played at Westfield High School.

Westfield        4    1    3    7
East Long       1    1    0    1

Scoring

Goals:        Cherry 4, Hoffman 3, Vantassle 2, Bonavita, Funaro, Sondrini, Roberts, Fenwick, Somers
Assists:      Hoffman 3, Funaro 2, Cherry, Sondrini, Roberts, Somers
Goalie saves:   Burque 9

                                                                       CRANX CORNER
Thursday's game was the first time Westfield has reached double digits in four games.....Defenseman Hank Casagrande was a no-show for the game, preferring instead to spend time with his new girlfriend,
Heather.....Aside from the lack of the female persuasion, Rich Borsari gets Crank kudos for hosting a superb postgame party.....Besides driving a girly-car, it was recently found out that Adam Cherry is in search of a midget.      
                            
                                                                                                                                     

 

by Buck Naeked
WC Times
June 20, 2006
  

    (Westfield) After an embarrasing 13-4 loss to South Hadley last week, things continued to go south for the Westfield Cranx, losing to PVLL power Shocker last night, 9-7.  It is the first time since 2004 that the Cranx have lost two in a row. 

    Right from the start, it was clear the game would be a sloppy one.  Turnovers abounded both teams during first half play, but especially the hometeam.  Bad passing, worse catching, missed groundballs, and awful clearing, dug a deep hole early for the Cranx, and they were never able to recover.  

    "We were just awful" snapped Cranx player/coach Chris Roberts after the game.  "We threw the ball away so many times, it was like we were throwing the (bleep) game.  It was like nobody (bleep) cared whether we won or lost.  Maybe some of our guys are being payed by the other team.  I have no other explanation.  The level we played at today was not even at high school level.  The Bombers could have beaten us today."  
    Defensive captain Mike Burque was a little more specific with his criticism:  "I think some guys were more concerned with their girly-friends on the sidelines than they were getting things done on the field.  (Matt) Hoffman, (Nick) Bonavita, Hank (Casagrande), they were spending more time googling at their girlfriends than playing the freakin' game.  There was no focus today."

 

    Quickly, Team Shocker got off to a 3-0 start in the game, before Adam Cherry opened up the Cranx scoring column with a late first quarter goal.  The second quarter got no better for Westfield, as poor all-around play continued, and a paultry three shots on net led to a halftime deficit of 5-1.
    After lightning delayed halftime for several minutes, the rain and hail seemed to rejuvenate the Cranx a little bit.  John Funaro corraled and errant shot and tucked it in to make it 5-2.  A minute later, speedy Zach Sondrini pushed a fastbreak, dished a nice pass to Cherry, who blistered home a laser, making it 5-3.  That quick run was short lived, however, as the Cranx close defense allowed a slam dunk from the crease, bumping the deficit back to three.  At 7-3, Cherry found the net for the third time with a dip & dunk move, and after three quarters, the score was 7-4.
    
    The Cranx were able to pull to within 8-6 midway through the fourth, with rookie recruit Mike Somers and Funaro scoring unassisted goals, but that would be as close as Westfield would come.  A 9-6 game was made 9-7, as Cranx legend Chris Strycharz made his 2006 debut with his first tally of the season with 1:40 left in the game.  Shocker killed the clock from there, and the embarrassed Westfield team left the field with their heads down, their jockstraps empty, and a 1-2 record.
    
    "What sucks most about this loss", said Robo, "is that this is the second best, or best team in the league.  And we just handed them the game.  Had we played even average, we leave with a W.  There's gotta' be changes here, and quick."  Asked specifically about what changes, Robo responded:  "I'm not getting into that.  Let's just say some guys better start coming to play.  Otherwise, they'll be out on their asses."  

Team Shocker:    3    2    2    2     
Westfield:             1    0    3    3    

SCORING
Goals:     Cherry 3, Funaro 2, Somers, Strycharz
Assists:   Sondrini
Saves:     Hoffman: 12    

                                                       CRANX CORNER
The crowd of 18 for the home opener depleted to seven after the storm warning delay.....Chris Strycharz made the 2-hour trek from SoCt. for the game.....Rough & cheap play pervaded the game, causing Cherry and Jay Vantassle to retaliate and threaten retribution to certain Shocker players.....Referee Joe Nassar was involved in controversy himself, as usually mild-mannered and highly-sportsmanlike Funaro was provoked into a shouting match by the hometown official, as the zebra failed to properly communicate a call late in the game. 

 

                                                                            
 

by Buck Naeked

WC Times
June 13, 2006

 

(Somers)   Combine a stellar defensive effort with an offensive production from an all-american, and good things are bound to happen.  Behind four goals and two assists from Adam Cherry, and a Fort Knox-style defense, the Westfield Cranx opened up their 2006 season with a hard fought 8-6 win over Somers.  The win is the ninth consecutive time the Cranx have won their opening game.

    
     Playing with only four short-stick midfielders, Westfield relied heavily on the defensive play of Rich Borsari, Pat Levesque, Geoff Moore, and Mike Getto, while Cherry propelled the offense.  Cherry scored the first Cranx goal, and the last one, while chalking up four points in between.

     The All-American out of WNEC scored the game's first goal off his patented bull dodging which left three Somers defensemen battered and bruised.  John Funaro found Jay Vantassle for the Cranx second goal, and minutes later it was Cherry again, this time off a Vantassle feed.  After the first quarter, Westfield was on top 3-1.  The bull-dodger connected for the second quarter's only tally, and the Cranx rode into halftime with a 4-1 lead.
    
     Chris Roberts provided the third quarter spark, connecting for two laser-like goals. Vantassle notched his second of the game, and after three, the Cranx still led by a score of 7-3.  Somers got to within 7-5 in the fourth, but could never get any closer, thanks to the defensive play and the goalkeeping duties of last year's team MVP, Matt Hoffman, who finished with 13 saves.
    
     "The defense really stepped up today", said player/coach Roberts.  "We ended up playing a lot of D today because of our numbers at offense, but they handled it very well."  Asked about any predictions for the season based on this game, Robo responded, "I think we'll be fine.  When we get our numbers back, our depth will be our strength.  We're definitely in it to win it (the PVLL championship).  We have arguably two of the best players in the league in Cherry and Hoffman.  Having those two on our team, we will always be a contender."

Westfield    3    1    3    1 
Somers       1    0    2    3

Scoring:  Goals:  Cherry 4, Vantassle 2, Roberts 2, 
               Assists:  Funaro 2, Cherry 2, Roberts, Vantassle


                                                                             CRANX CORNER
The Cranx had four players play more than one position, including Mike Burque, who got jacked up playing middie, possibly suffering his 12th concussion.  His status is day to day.....Several players looked slow and out of shape.  Most noticeably Hank Casagrande and Anthony Spagnoli.....No sheep were seen at game time, much to the displeasure of Matty Richards.  Typically farm animals are commonplace at Pinney Field.