Reading boys land elusive lacrosse title

BURLINGTON — If there ever was a time for Reading to capture a state lacrosse title, it was this spring, where the perfect collection of talent and coaching all came together for one extended playoff run. On Sunday, they completed their dream season in the best way imaginable.

Senior Robbie Granara led his team with a pair of goals, as top-seeded Reading captured its first Div. 2 title since 2018 with a 9-4 victory over No. 3 Duxbury at Burlington High School.

“It feels wonderful,” Granara said afterward. “I mean, we’ve been working for this moment for 13 years now. The same group. The same crew of (athletes). We’ve been best friends since we were little kids. Just feels unbelievable to finally get to this moment.”

Reading (22-1) entered the game missing key contributors such as senior attackmen Ethan Haggerty (broken wrist) and Jack Jaynes (broken jaw)— a problem since Duxbur is one of the state’s premier defensive squads. Granara opted to wear Haggerty’s jersey No. 22 with hopes of finding inspiration. The move paid dividends, as the senior sniped the game’s opening goal with 4:57 to play in the first, and Reading was just getting started.

“I just knew that we started what we were going to finish,” Granara said. “I knew that was the beginning to the grand finale.”

Granara netted his second goal with 29 seconds remaining in the first half, as Reading took a 4-0 lead into the break. The Rockets would tack on two more goals to start the third quarter off shots from Cullen Granara and Aidan Koster to jump ahead 6-0, before the Dragons got on the board with a goal from Samuel Wien with 9:20 left.

“We knew that they double-teamed quickly,” said Reading coach Charles Hardy. “They wanted to pass the ball to the back side. We made them work to get that, and I think that’s how we did it today.”

Reading found a second gear. Emon Centrella ripped a shot into the twine with 8:57 to play in the quarter, while Koster netted his second goal just a moment later to make it 8-1, and the Rockets coasted to the finish.

Duxbury (20-4) was powered all day by Wien (two goals).

“They just played their hearts out today,” said Hardy. “Today, we were the better team. Chris (Sweet) is a great coach. That team’s a good team. Today was our day, and we earned it.”