Second Half Surge Sparks Foxborough Comeback Over Walpole in MIAA State Tourney Opener

WALPOLE - The Foxborough High School boys' lacrosse team lived up to its "Warriors" nickname Tuesday in a gritty comeback victory over Walpole to open MIAA state tournament play.

Trailing 5-3 at halftime, Foxborough rallied around the motivational – and spirited - words of head coach Matt Noone during the intermission to dominate the final 24 minutes enroute to an 8-7 win over the Rebels in a preliminary round game of the MIAA D2 East Sectional State Tournament.

Foxborough was led offensively by Tyler Ames’ second-half hat trick and Kyle Sperzel’s hat trick. Zach Atanasoff added Foxborough’s other two goals to cap the Warriors’ scoring.

Foxborough’s defense was equally impressive in the second half after a slow start in the opening 24 minutes. The Warriors controlled the majority of the draws and limited Walpole’s time in the offensive zone, holding the Rebels to just two goals in the third and fourth quarters.

But the No. 16 Rebels did not go down without a fight, putting together a late run in the fourth quarter to pull within one at 8-7 but ultimately fell short of extending its season.

Walpole’s Chris Frye led the Rebels in scoring with five goals.

Next up for the No. 17 Warriors (14-7) is the tournament’s top seed, Hingham (18-3) on Friday at 5 p.m. in Hingham.

Walpole ends its season with an 11-8 record.