Central Stuns LI in OT, 8-7

July 23, 2010

Michael Andreassi (1) and James Pannell (14) each scored twice in the second half for Long Island. Photo by Kyle LavioletteMichael Andreassi (1) and James Pannell (14) each scored twice in the second half for Long Island. Photo by Kyle Laviolette

BUFFALO — Carthage’s Tom Grimm, a Syracuse commitment, ended an overtime thriller at the Empire State Games on his goal with 2:06 left as Central topped Long Island, 8-7, in a scholastic boys lacrosse game at Canisius College Friday night.

Central, which improved to 4-0 and locked up a berth in the gold medal game on Sunday, held Long Island scoreless in the first half and jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the third quarter. But Long Island, the four-time defending champs, answered with a flourish.

Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin got the Island on the board with a rip with 7:07 left in the third. Sachem North’s Michael Andreassi closed the gap to 5-2 on a point-blank shot with 5:8 left. West Islip midfielder scored on yet another behind-the-back move with 1:55 left and Smithtown West’s James Pannell closed the quarter with a goal and high step celebration to move Long Island to down 5-4.

Central responded with a pair of fourth-quarter goals sandwiched between Andreassi’s score. Then East Islip’s Kevin Wendel and Pannell struck for back-to-back goals, the latter forging a tie at 7 with 3:10 left.

That’s how it remained until Grimm beat Connetquot goalie Zach Oliveri (11 saves) backside for the sudden death score.

Long Island FOGO Jake Froccaro, who had a strong second half, was knocked out of the game with 4:14 left when he was hit from behind. He sat out the remainder of the game. But his absence was felt in the faceoff circle.

Long Island can return to the gold medal game and force a rematch with Central by beating winless New York City on Saturday at 5 p.m.

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 OT F
Central 1 3 1 2 1 8
Long Island 0 0 4 3 0 7

Goals – CN: Rice 2 Corapi, Curtis, Donahue, Edwards, Grimm, Lasda LI: Andreassi 2, Pannell 2, Gamblin, Sagl, Wendel. Assists – CN: Ferrito, Piroli LI: Jones, Keenan, Pannell. Saves – CN: White 11 LI: Oliveri 11.

LI Outlasts Adirondack, 12-4

July 23, 2010

Port Washington’s Jake Froccaro scored twice, added an assist and handled faceoffs against Adirondack. Photo by Kyle Laviolette Port Washington’s Jake Froccaro scored twice, added an assist and handled faceoffs against Adirondack. Photo by Kyle Laviolette

Buffalo – Long Island endured wind, rain and rumblings of thunder at Canisius College on Friday. The boys lacrosse team also grew frustrated with Adirondack’s zone defense and clock-eating offense. But the players became downright unhinged when Adirondack goalie Bob Wardwell raced up the field and scored.

Day 2 of the Empire State Games got off to an alarming start for the four-time defending champs.

Yet Port Washington midfielder Jake Froccaro won the opening faceoff of the second half and Smithtown West attack James Pannell scored just 8 seconds in as Long Island shook off a 3-2 halftime deficit.

It was the first of 10 second-half goals for Long Island, which improved to 3-0 with a 12-4 win. With games remaining against Central (Friday, 8 p.m.) and New York City (Saturday, 5 p.m.), Long Island has all but locked up a berth in Sunday’s gold medal game.

Froccaro, Pannell, West Islip’s Michael Sagl and East Islip’s Kevin Wendel each had two goals in the win. Northport’s Thomas Cordts started in goal and made seven saves.

Smithtown West’s Kyle Keenan, playing the role of X attack, got the offense in a groove in the second half. He found a cutting Wendel with 5:57 left in the third and the East Islip scorer converted to put Long Island on top 4-3. Keenan finished with four assists.

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 F
Adirondack 1 2 0 1 4
Long Island 1 1 4 6 12

Goals – AD: Cox, D’Amario, Sperry, Wardwell LI: Froccaro 2, Pannell 2, Sagl 2, Wendel 2, Gamblin, Gordon, Jones, Walsh. Assists – AD: Cox LI: Keenan 4, Andreassi 2, Froccaro, Gerrato. Saves – AD: Wardwell 15 LI: Cordts 7.

Gamblin Nets 5, LI Rolls 13-7

July 22, 2010

Hicksville's Brandon Gamblin (far right) gets a handshake from Hudson Valley after scoring five goals at the 2010 Empire State Games. Photo by Jason Molinet.
Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin (far right) gets a handshake from Hudson Valley after scoring five goals at the 2010 Empire State Games. Photo by Jason Molinet.

BUFFALO — Long Island went on the attack Day 1 of the Empire State Games and emerged 2-0 after pelting the Hudson Valley goal in a 13-7 win Thursday afternoon at Canisius College. Hicksville rising senior attack Brandon Gamblin charged into the teeth of the Hudson Valley defense and scored just 1:17 into the game. It was the first of five goals for the UMass-bound scorer.

And yet Gamblin’s offensive outburst wasn’t even the most impressive highlight of a day filled with memorable moments. No, those belong to West Islip midfielder Michael Sagl. The understated senior has been a key cog in two state championship teams. Against Hudson Valley, he showed a little flair when he scored on an over-the-shoulder, behind-the-back shot — twice.

Once again, FOGO Jake Froccaro a rising junior from Port Washington, helped Long Island control the game by owning the faceoff circle. It helped the Island take a commanding 9-3 lead midway through the third quarter.

East Islip’s Kevin Wendel double pumped, sending a Hudson Valley defender flying past him to open a clear path to the net, also drew sideline raves. His score extended the lead to 10-3 with 1:25 left in the third.

Northport goalie Thomas Cordts made eight saves to earn the win.

Long Island has two more games on Friday. It faces Adirondack at 11 a.m. followed by the highly anticipated showdown versus Central under the lights at 8 p.m. With two winnable games left on the schedule – Adirondack and New York City – Long Island may have already positioned it self to reach the gold medal game.

So the prime time showdown against Central will be telling. For now, Long Island can sleep well having outplayed and outlasted host Western and always-respectable Hudson Valley. It’s a strong first day by any measure for coach Jay Mauro and Co.

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 F
Hudson Valley 0 2 2 3 7
Long Island 3 2 5 3 13

Goals – HV: Caffrey 2, Mcreddie 2, Bonaventura, Donohue, McNally LI: Gamblin 5, Sagl 2, Keenan, Jones, Miller, Pannell, Walsh, Wendel. Assists – HV: Caffrey, Dedomenico, Schurr LI: Keenan 3, Andreassi, Gamblin, Gerrato, Pannell. Saves – HV: Grace LI: Cordts 8.

LI Runs Away From Western 10-4

July 22, 2010

East Islip's Kevin Wendel outpaces the Western defense at the 2010 Empire State Games. Photo by Kyle Laviolette.
East Islip’s Kevin Wendel outpaces the Western defense at the 2010 Empire State Games. Photo by Kyle Laviolette.

Buffalo — Long Island began its quest for an unprecedented fifth straight gold medal in scholastic boys lacrosse with an early-morning wakeup call. The players and coaches had to put a marathon 24 hours behind them, starting with a 10-hour bus ride which began at Bethpage State Park at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, then the emotions of Opening Ceremonies Wednesday evening and culminating with an air condition-less night of sleep in the dorms at Canisius College.

What awaited them Thursday was a 9 a.m. date with the belle of the ball. Many hyped Western as the trendy favorite to upset Long Island, not only because the boys from Buffalo and Rochester were playing on their home turf, but because the roster was stocked with several big-name college commitments.

Yet it was clear from the opening faceoff on the turf at Canisius that Long Island brought a little something extra. Call it confidence, swagger or attitude. The offense roared to life early, scoring three quick goals and hitting the pipe several times more.

East Islip’s Kevin Wendel, a rising senior midfield committed to Navy, took a pass from Smithtown West’s Kyle Keenan lurking behind the cage and found the back of the net for a 1-0 edge just 1:48 into the game.

Keenan, the son of Smithtown West coach Sean Keenan and one of three Bulls players on the Empire squad, made it 3-0 with his drive with 3:49 left in the first. It was part of a three-goal, three-assist day for Keenan, a rising senior attack headed to Duke.

Despite a strong start, Long Island only led 3-2 at halftime. The coaching staff simply preached patience. The defense held up fine and the offense had plenty of shots on goal. Connetquot senior goalie Zach Oliveri, a vocal leader in the back and a team co-captain, registered 10 saves and directed a defense that effectively shut down Western in the second half.

FOGO specialist Jake Froccaro a Port Washington rising junior and the youngest player on the Empire team, dominated in the circle in the second half. His quick outlet to Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin put LI in front 4-2 just 3 seconds into the third quarter. Sachem North’s Michael Andreassi collected a ground ball to set up Smithtown West attack James Pannell for a goal 31 seconds later.

The rout was on from there. Long Island scored five goals in the quarter. Long Island faces Hudson Valley at 4 p.m. while Western gets a chance to atone against traditionally-weak New York City at 8 p.m.

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 F
Western 1 1 1 1 4
Long Island 3 0 5 2 10

Goals – WN: Coholan, Dejoe, Reed, Yunker LI: Keenan 3, Andreassi, Gamblin, Geratto, Gordon, Jones, Pannell, Wendel. Assists – WN: Burke, Yunker LI: Keenan 3, Pannell 2, Gordon. Saves – WN: Govenettio 8 LI: Oliveri 10.

LI Downs Team Superstars 11-3

July 8, 2010

Floyd's Luke Miller scored twice as Long Island lacrosse beat Team Superstars, 11-3. Photo by David Savoie

Stony Brook, N.Y. — It was a game the Long Island boys lacrosse Empire State Games team dominated from start to finish, but a performance uneven enough to leave the coaching staff flustered.

Long Island faced Team Superstars, based in Katonah, N.Y., and boasting a roster of Connecticut and Westchester seniors and juniors.

Long Island built an 8-1 first half lead en route to an 11-3 win on Thursday night under the lights at LaValle Stadium at Stony Brook University.

Floyd senior midfielder Luke Miller scored twice and set up a Joey Leonard (Hicksville) goal just before halftime.

Duke commitment Myles Jones, a senior midfielder from Whitman, also raised eyebrows with a vicious hit and a second-quarter goal in a show of power and finesse.

Connetquot’s Zach Oliveri and Northport’s Thomas Cordts each played a half and looked good in goal, with an aggressive defense adding a near impenetrable layer.

Ryan Brunet (Comsewogue), Jake Froccaro (Port Washington), Brandon Gamblin (Hicksville), Thomas Gordon (Garden City), James Pannell (Smithtown West), Nick Sherry (Oceanside) and Kevin Wendel (East Islip) each scored for Long Island.

Division senior attack Thomas Nuckel was on the sideline 48 hours after suffering a left knee injury. Wearing a brace and in good spirits, Nuckel will miss the Empire State Games despite being selected as part of the 20-man travel team.

Long Island will play four games at the Tri-State Tournament on Saturday at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, N.J.