LI Advances to Gold Medal Game

July 24, 2010

Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin scored six goals to lead Long Island to the gold medal game. Photo by Kyle Laviolette
Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin scored six goals to lead Long Island to the gold medal game. Photo by Kyle Laviolette

BUFFALO – The Long Island scholastic boys lacrosse team moved a big step closer to defending its gold medal by closing out play 4-1 after thumping New York City, 15-3, on Saturday at Canisius College. The start was delayed a half hour by lightning. But once the game began, Hicksville’s Brandon Gamblin was electric.

Two days after racking up five goals in a win over Hudson Valley, the rising senior midfielder poured in six more to single-handedly outscore the City (0-5). Gamblin, a UMass commitment, has 14 goals in five games at the Empire State Games. New York has never beaten Long Island, and after the Island jumped in front 5-0, it was clear it wouldn’t happen this time either.

Garden City’s Tom Gordon had two goals and two assists, Smithtown West’s James Pannell scored twice and added an assist and Smithtown teammate Kyle Keenan had a goal and three assists. Northport’s Tom Cordts recorded four saves.

Long Island will face Central for the gold medal on Sunday at 11 a.m.

TEAMS 1 2 3 4 F
New York City 0 2 1 0 3
Long Island 5 3 3 4 15

Goals – NYC: Fowler, Philipps, Pietroforte LI: Gamblin 6, Gordon 2, Pannell 2, Andreassi, Demeireles, Keenan, Sagl, Wendel. Assists – NYC: Philipps LI: Keenan 3, Gordon 2, Andreassi, Gerrato, Pannell, Sagl, Walsh. Saves – NYC: Superka 13, Fiore 6 LI: Cordts 4.

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 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.

Nassau Wins Top 50 Game

June 24, 2010

East Northport , N.Y. — Call it first contact. The boys lacrosse players who will make up Long Island’s entry into the 2010 Empire State Games faced off on Thursday night on the field turf at Veterans Park.

After five grueling days of tryouts, 712 players had been culled to the top 25 in Nassau and Suffolk. And from this group, the best performers in the Top 50 game would earn a spot on the 30-man Empire roster announced the next afternoon at Hofstra’s Margiotta Hall.

Suffolk shined early, but the Nassau all-stars pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 12-10 victory. Sachem North rising senior attack Michael Andreassi had five goals while Hicksville senior midfielder Brandon Gamblin and Division senior attack Thomas Nuckel each added three goals.

It was a see-saw battle entering the fourth quarter. That’s when Port Washington junior midfielder Jake Froccaro tipped the balance in Nassau’s favor thanks to his faceoff skills.

Andreassi scored Suffolk’s first two goals – sandwiched between Farmingdale senior attack Salvatore Tuttle’s goal – for a 2-1 edge.

Oceanside senior midfielder Nick Sherry tied it at 2. That’s how it remained into the third quarter when Smithtown West junior attack James Pannell put Suffolk back in front 3-2. In the second half, Pannell received a cut between the eyes which required a hospital visit, but he stayed in the game.

Hicksville senior attack Joey Leonard scored for Nassau and Andreassi answered immediately to make it 4-3.

Division’s Nuckel tied it at 4 and Hicksville’s Gamblin scored back-to-back goals to put Nassau in front for the first time, 6-4.

Andreassi continued to dominate, closing the gap to 6-5. East Islip senior attack Tyler Begley tied it at 6 with a hard shot.

Gamblin opened a manic fourth quarter with a goal. Comsewogue senior attack Ryan Brunet scored to tie things at 7. What had been a physical, defense-oriented game to this point now shifted into a track meet.

Each of the three goalies Nassau and Suffolk carried into the game had played one quarter to this point. Connetquot’s Zach Oliveri, Northport’s Thomas Cordts, Syosset’s Ryan Feit and Manhasset’s Frank Morelli made brilliant saves. Now all the goalies rotated through in the final period.

Jericho senior midfielder Jesse Chazen made it 8-7 Nassau. Smithtown West senior attack Kyle Keenan tied it for Suffolk.

But when South Side senior midfielder Bryan Gerrato, wearing No. 179, scored, it marked the eighth lead change and put Nassau ahead for good at 9-8. Goals by Farmingdale senior midfielder Korey Hendrickson and Nuckel extended the lead to 11-8.

Shoreham-Wading River senior midfielder Trevor Brosco answered for Suffolk to make it 11-9. Then Andreassi scored for the fifth time to make it a one-goal game.

But Nuckel put the finishing touches on an impressive night for Nassau with a goal just before the final whistle.

The tryout process was finally history. Yet the coaching staff still had a long night ahead. They needed to finalize the top 30 Empire players and send congratulatory emails overnight. The 20 who didn’t make the cut? They earned spots on the Long Island Showcase.