CONCORD — Entering Tuesday night’s game, Reading boys lacrosse coach Charlie Hardy wanted his group to send a message, one which would validate the impeccable spring the Rockets have enjoyed.

Thanks to a complete team effort, they managed to do so by closing one of the greatest regular seasons in program history in impressive fashion. Mark Boyle and Cullen Granara each buried a pair of goals and tacked on an assist apiece, as Reading defeated a very tough Concord-Carlisle squad on the road, 9-3.

“I think we moved the ball extremely well,” Hardy said. “We try to teach exactly what you just said – move the ball, get everybody involved. Find our matchups, and go from there. That’s exactly what happened. We found the matchups where we wanted them to be, people beat their matchup, and we scored.”

Reading also was the beneficiary of a great performance from senior midfielder Ethan Haggerty (two goals). It didn’t take long for the Rockets (17-1) to establish the tempo, as Robbie Granara fired a shot into the cage to provide Reading a 1-0 lead 15 seconds into play. Boyle, Haggerty and Cullen Granara proceeded to bury goals during the next few minutes respectively, as the Rockets jumped out to a 4-0 advantage with 4:40 to play in the first quarter. Haggerty would go on to snipe his second goal with seven seconds remaining in the ensuing frame, as the Rockets constructed a 5-1 lead at the half.

“We needed to probably get one (goal) and not let them score (there),” said Concord-Carlisle coach Tom Dalicandro. “Just for our mental well being … 5-1 at half, while not insurmountable, we just felt that it was hard. Finn (Granara) went down, made a lot of saves. We had some decent possessions, we just had a lot of trouble going by their guys. They’re really strong all over the field.”

While Concord-Carlisle (13-5) was able to steady things a bit on the defensive end as the game progressed, Reading simply proved too strong in this one, and it was largely due to the team’s depth. Boyle and Cullen Granara each netted a goal in the third, as the Rockets pulled away down the stretch.

“That’s what happens,” Hardy said. “They shut off Mark Boyle, then Ethan had a good day. They put the ball on Ethan, then Mark started to have a good game. That’s been the story most of the year. Then they shut off Robbie, and that’s when Cullen comes along. That’s the strength of our team, we have a whole bunch of pieces that can score, and they’re willing to make that pass.”

Concord-Carlisle was powered offensively by Ryan Fivek, who finished with a pair of goals.

As of Tuesday night, Reading was listed as the top-ranked team in the MIAA Div. 2 field. Now the Rockets will look to embark on what many are hoping could be a deep run toward a state championship.

“The key is to just keep competing at practice,” said Haggerty. “When we have bad games, or stretches of long practice, (the important thing) is to just keep competing with each other. Keeping the intensity high, and not taking our eye off the prize.”