Different kind of year ended with Bishop Guertin boys lacrosse winning another D1 title

It felt like a different kind of season for the Bishop Guertin High School boys lacrosse team to Paulo Vazquez.

Some of that was being a senior, meaning he had to play a different role for the Cardinals than in years past. But there were a lot of people filling new roles, on the field and on the sideline.

For the first time in two decades, Bishop Guertin had someone new in charge, as Brian Cameron took over as the head coach for his father, Chris, who stayed on as an assistant.

This year's seniors were trying to replace a group that including a handful of four-year varsity players, while navigating the year with a junior class that features some of the state's most heralded recruits.

There were a handful of players who transitioned from position to position, whether it was attack to midfield, offense to defense, or from a long pole to a short stick.

"It’s definitely different, we had some changes, different roles," Vazquez said. "It was different being a senior leader this year. I didn’t really know what to expect coming into, but I think we all found our way and we came together as a team at the right time. We just improved and brought it into the season. The connection we had all season was great."

The Cardinals struggled with their out-of-state schedule for the first time in a while, going 1-4 in games played, plus a forfeit loss to Acton-Boxborough in a game that was postponed and not made up.

But those other four losses were to the teams that played in the title games in both Massachusetts and Connecticut. And when the time came, Bishop Guertin did what it's been doing for a long time.

The Cardinals got the lead early in the Division I championship game against Pinkerton and steamrolled the Astros for a 19-5 win that was Bishop Guertin's fifth title in a row. The team's offensive output was the most scored in a boys championship game in state history and the margin of victory matched the state record.

That game, Bedford's 16-2 win over Goffstown in the 2013 D2 championship game, and this one are the only two boys lacrosse championship games ever to be decided by 10 goals or more.

"Once we had a good lead, the ball was moving the best it’s moved all year," Brian Cameron said. "I think our guys were confident and I think the lead was part of that."

As good as the Cardinals were on offense or defense, they controlled the game in the midfield, starting with Vazquez, who won 18 of 21 faceoffs.

"We came into it knowing we were going to win faceoffs," he said. "(Assistant) coach (Luke) Solms said our best defense is the offense with the ball. I think I come in and try my best to get the offense the ball. I trust my offense where, if I get the ball every time, they’re going to put it in the back of the net. If we do that over and over again, we can’t really lose."

No matter what Pinkerton tried to throw at Vazquez and the Cardinals' wings, they were able to overcome it.

"We were great in the middle of the field," Brian Cameron said. "Paulo is the engine that starts us. Tyler McLeod and Hunter Duany, JP Dunsmoor, Noah Guerrera, those guys are so good in the middle of the field and kickstart transition that we’re able to get going. Then we were able to take care of the ball.

"I’m really proud of the way they were coachable all year and they care so much about it. Nobody really complained, nobody said anything, we just kept chugging along. We played our best when it mattered most."