Matthews leads the way for MIAA

WELLESLEY — Too much of a talent gap? Tell that to an MIAA AllStar at your peril.

In the second such meeting between Independent School League and MIAA players in the Boston Lax All-American game, the MIAA struck back for a 13-9 victory at Babson’s MacDowell Field on a scorching Thursday evening, overcoming an early four-goal deficit to tie the series at one apiece.

The MIAA pulled even on the strength of an MVP performance Acton-Boxborough’s Cam Matthews, who struck for four goals to lead all scorers — including two in the fourth quarter to help seal the deal.

“It’s cool, it sets the tone,” said Matthews, who’ll play collegiately at St. Lawrence. “It’s an honor, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great game. It’s good for the state to spread the game of lacrosse.”

Matthews also scored twice in the second quarter, following goals from Joseph Mikaelian (Longmeadow/Bentley) and Robbie Granara (Reading/UMass) to make it a 5-all score at the half.

Jimmy Ayers, a three-time state champion at St. John’s Prep who’ll play at Johns Hopkins, alternated playing lead for the MIAA in the third quarter with Will Emsing, a three-time state runner-up from BC High who’ll play at Tufts. The Catholic Conference foes scored twice each, the lead swelling to as many as six goals for the MIAA after losing last year’s contest by such a margin, 16-10.

Sharp goaltending from the MIAA was persistent throughout the second half, starting with two-time state champion Ryan Daly (Norwell/Vermont) in the third with four saves and then seven more from BC High’s Andrew Toland, who’ll play lacrosse and football at Bates.

“It’s a lot of fun to get back out here with my teammates,” said Toland, one of six BC High representatives in the game. “It feels great to get the win.”

For his efforts over the final 15 minutes, Toland was named the goaltender of the game.

Pearse MacDonald (Governor’s Academy/ Penn) had two goals for the ISL.