Update after press time: Melrose defeats Lynnfield 11-7 in home opener. (March 28)
Published March 28, 2025
Brand new coach will lead team in 2025
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High boy’s lacrosse team kicks off their spring season this Friday, March 28 when they host Lynnfield at Fred Green Field at 4:15 p.m. And this year, they embark on their season under the leadership of a new coach.
Jeff Heater is replacing outgoing Melrose head coach Matt James, who led the team to several winning seasons and league titles in his successful 13-year coaching stint at Melrose High. Heater is now just the third coach for Melrose High boy’s lacrosse program.
Heater is more than familiar with Melrose lacrosse and these high school players. He joined the coaching staff in 2016 as Melrose’s JV coach and has seen the best of days with the team. “I had coached with a former Melrose assistant coach and he was always bragging about how awesome the boys in Melrose were,” coach Heater says. “When a position opened up I jumped at the chance, and I’ve been very lucky to part of this program since.”
Heater is a Woburn native who played lacrosse and football at Woburn High and the University of New Haven. “My coaches had a great impact on my life, and after college I felt is was my turn to continue that trend,” he says. “I’ve been coaching since 2012, where I started in various youth programs. I then joined the PrimeTime Select Lacrosse club team, as well as finding my home with Melrose.”
Last season Melrose went one round in playoffs – a win against Whittier Tech – before falling to state semifinalist Marshfield. This year they’d like to advance beyond that.
“We have about 40 athletes that are part of the program,” reports the coach. “We’re excited about a bunch of new athletes joining the program between the 9th and 10th grade. While our 11th and 12th graders have a lot of varsity experience to help mentor our younger athletes.”
Leading the squad are four captains: Nick Hitchman, Quinn Fogarty, Quinn Haggerty, and Dylan Mestjian. “Every one of our captains bring previous varsity experience to our roster. Nick, Quinn F, and Quinn H are our senior captains that are a big part of our offense, while Dylan is our junior LSM who has been locking down our defense.”
Melrose is fortunate to have both youth and experience, particularly on defense. “While we are young as a program we have a lot of experience among our varsity roster,” says the coach. “The defense has been filled by many returning players including Anders Giuliano and Milo Mujalli, which will be anchored by our senior goalie Noah Fay.”
In their pre season efforts, Melrose has performed solidly and that’s a good primer for what will be a very tough regular season schedule. “We’ve been very competitive in our three preseason scrimmages. The boys have been working hard every game and we have been getting better because of it,” says Heater. “We’ve been working a lot on our stick skills to make sure we are doing the little things right. We have been rotating a lot of our younger players into our offense and defense so far. This season, like many, will depend on our flexibility at all positions.”
Melrose kicks off against Lynnfield before embarking on games against Middlesex League large teams Belmont, Reading and Winchester. Then it’s on to Freedom rivals, Wakefield and league winner Burlington. There will be no days off.
“The Middlesex League will be competitive this year,” says the coach. “We’re looking forward to all our league games, and competing for a league title.”