Lax Men Ready To Move Forward This Season

The Big Blue boys’ lacrosse team hit the field last week to begin practice for the 2011 season. Coach Josh Field enters his sixth season as head coach of a team that won the NEC South last season.

The coach had to get the team ready quickly; Swampscott was scheduled to play Woburn and Burlington Saturday in the Woburn Lacrosse Jamboree.

Field played football and club lacrosse at Northeastern University.

“The high school program is reaping the benefits of an outstanding youth program in town,” Field said. “We’ve got hockey players on the team, football players, a lot of good athletes coming out for lacrosse.”

The Big Blue made it to the state tournament last year, but was eliminated in the first round by Newburyport.

Captain Sean Lannon returns for his senior season, the co-captains will be elected later this season.

The Big Blue coaching staff includes assistants Brad Harvey, Sean Dignan and Ryan Joy.

“We made the tournament last year, and we were competitive last season, and we’ve got a good group of young players returning, so we’ll have a strong group on the field,” Field said.

Swampscott opens up the regular season on the road April 9, when they take on Manchester-Essex.

“There are aspects of every sport in lacrosse,” Field said. “You’ve got parts of hockey, track and basketball in lacrosse, endurance and scoring, that’s what makes it a great sport.”

The varsity will participate in the Wellesley Jamboree on April 2.

“There are over 150 kids involved in lacrosse in town, they’re taught the fundamentals in the youth program, so we can work on the X’s and O’s when they get to high school,” Field said.

The games in Wellesley will take place at the Sprague Turf Complex; the Blue plays the hosts at noon and Medfield at 2:15 p.m.

The games count on April 9, under the lights in Manchester at 7 p.m.

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