Last modified: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 2:22 AM EDT
Mansfield's Ryan Murphy scored over 50 goals this season. (Staff photo by MARTIN GAVIN)

Top point men highlight boys' lacrosse stars

Through the years, no member of the Tri-County Regional High School boys' lacrosse team has been as productive and prolific at putting the ball in the net as North Attleboro's Mike Cavanaugh.

With a school record 245 goals to his credit and nearly 400 points, the Cougar senior is one of the area's elite lacrosse players, a member of the 2009 Sun Chronicle All-Star Team.

Five of the area's schools qualified for the MIAA Tournament with Cavanaugh and the Cougars piling up 14 wins in 18 regular season outings and participating in the Division 3 sectionals.

The King Philip Warriors, with 15 wins, earned a No. 10 seed for the MIAA Division 2 Tournament and had five of its team members receive All-Sun Chronicle recognition.

The Mansfield High Hornets, with nine wins, the Foxboro High Warriors, with 11 wins, and the Bishop Feehan Shamrocks, with nine wins, were the respective Nos. 22, 23 and 24 seeds for the Division 2 Tournament and were appropriately represented on the All-Sun Chronicle Team.

Mansfield, which lost a first round tournament match at No. 11 seeded Wayland, had four Hornets selected. Foxboro High, which lost a first round tournament match at King Philip, was represented by three players, while the Bishop Feehan Shamrocks, in their first season as an official varsity team, had three picks on the pitch in its first-ever tournament match at Norwood.

In addition to Cavanaugh, the returning selections include fellow Cougar defender Kevin Hart; Foxboro High four-year starter in goal with nearly 800 saves, David Santos; Mansfield High attackman and career 100-goal scorer Ryan Murphy; along with King Philip Regional High household names, defender Chris Pellichero and 100-goal scorer Kyle Lasher.

In addition to Cavanaugh and Hart, the Mayflower League co-champion Cougars were represented on the all-star team by 41-goal scorer Matt Killoy.

Alex Renner, a 26-goal scorer and Pat Boyland, a 22-goal scorer, were joined on the team by Feehan teammate Pat O'Neil, a defender.

Defender Barrett Holden and 23-goal scorer Brad Alix of North Attleboro High were named to the area's all-star list, being joined by Foxboro's 36-goal scorer Ed Noonan, 32-goal scorer Connor Whalen and Santos, who posted a gaudy .633 save percentage this season.

Rounding out the selections from Mansfield are 33-point man Tom Hurley, 32-point man Matt Zonghetti and 26-point man Zach Hastings.

And from KP, the postseason all-star accolades were extended to four-year defender Chris Pellichero, three-year defender Joe Purdon, first-year goalie Andrew Marks, 45-goal scorer John Florence and 36-goal scorer Kyle Lasher.