MARION, Mass. – For the first time in program history, Tabor Academy claimed the Independent School League title on Sunday afternoon.
On a perfect day for lacrosse down near Cape Cod and with a huge crowd on hand, the top-seeded Seawolves beat second-seeded St. Sebastian’s 14-10 at home.
Tabor finished the season 18-1, making some history after a heart-breaking loss in last year’s championship game (8-7 in overtime) against Belmont Hill. The Arrows wrapped up their own historic run at 13-2.
“A lot of hard work,” head coach Connor Gordon – who took over in 2023 – said postgame while gladly wearing a soaking wet ‘TA Lacrosse’ shirt. ”They worked their asses off. Really, ever since we lost that game last year, I think…to me it’s a new season and anything can happen, but I think to them, that hurt, that defeat really stayed with them.
“They had a goal this year as soon as we stepped on campus in September, but especially when the season started. It worked for everything. This is the best part.”
Seawolves Make History
Senior Lafayette signee Leo Kavey (three goals, two assists) and five-star sophomore Landen O’Neil (hat trick) led the way for Tabor. O’Neil finished the season with 62 goals and 118 points to lead the league. Junior UMass commit Grady Alger was great in net with 10 saves and junior UMass commit Justin Guyette was dominant at the X, winning 15 draws. St. Seb’s got hat tricks from Laxachusetts eighth grader Stew Curry and junior Syracuse commit Quincy Quillard. Senior Notre Dame signee Ty Curry (Laxachusetts) added two goals.
There were plenty of Laxachusetts guys that made a major impact in this one on both sides as well.
Junior Michigan commit Dylan Franzen had two goals for the Seawolves. Senior Tufts commit Colton McNamara also potted two. Junior Michael Albert (Saint Joseph’s) had two goals and an assist. Junior Providence commit Jayden Walters (2027 A/M, Providence) added a goal and an assist. Five-star junior Princeton commit Jack Czepiel provided his usual stoic, physical presence and also added a pole-goal in the win.
For St. Seb’s, the Curry brothers made their usual mark. Stew Curry finished off his remarkable eighth grade season in style. Meanwhile, his older brother, Ty, was another leading producer for the Arrows. Uncommitted junior Will Haggerty had a goal. Senior defensemen George Kelly (Duke) and Brian Burke (Harvard) left their marks on offensive players for Tabor with lethal stick checks throughout the afternoon.
Tabor’s Historic Run
Tabor jumped out to a 1-0 lead early just over a minute into the game and never gave it up, despite Seb’s best efforts to remain within one or two goals throughout the 48 minutes. The Seawolves led 4-2 after one, 8-6 at halftime and 12-9 heading to the fourth before Kavey scored two empty net goals in the final minute to turn a 12-10 lead into the four-goal win.
The Seawolves stormed the field with sticks, helmets and gloves flying after one final save from Alger on a long distance shot.
In a matter of seconds, the giant Tabor student section on hand joined them in a scene you’d normally see in Gladiator movies, with team and ‘beach-themed’ students colliding in one massive, chaotic pile. Moments later, the Seawolves were presented the program’s first ISL championship trophy, lifting it high and roaring again before posing for the photo to commemorate history.
Senior Seawolves Lead the Way
After taking over in 2023, Gordon didn’t expect Tabor to reach the top of the mountain so quickly, but credited the senior class with laying the foundation.
“Never expected that from myself,” he said. “Right place, right time. Being an alum of Tabor, I just missed that competition when I was away from the game of lacrosse for a little bit. When I came back as a coach, it kind of changed my life in a lot of ways where it just brought it back. I was so happy to be here.
“It took a little while to build it up to this. All of these seniors and a lot of these juniors have been playing since they were ninth graders. So, they started it. This ’26 class specifically, the past four years it’s been growth throughout my four years as a head coach. It’s been really fun, to say the least.”
Now, with a target on their backs, will the Seawolves have to change up the mindset and approach heading into 2027?
Nope, at least, not yet.
“No, not at all. You enjoy it for a little bit, probably a couple weeks and then you come back and instill the same mentality,” Gordon said. “You hope all these guys that feel this right now that return want to have this feeling again.
“That starts in September and all the way through until May, until this Sunday.”