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Ward Melville High School sophomore captures action shots at NCAA men’s lacrosse quarterfinals

by TBR Staff - May 25, 2019

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Two thrilling overtime games send Virginia and Duke to lacrosse championship weekend

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By Robert Earl Pszybylski

Robert Earl Pszybylski, a sophomore at Ward Melville High School, attended the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship quarterfinals May 18 at the James M. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University in Hempstead. The 15-year-old budding photographer captured the action shots in the photo gallery above.

The Cavaliers of Virginia University and the Blue Devils of Duke University punched their ticket to Philadelphia in front of a crowd of more 8,000 fans Saturday, May 18 at James M. Shuart Stadium, Hofstra University in Hempstead. With both games requiring overtime to determine a winner, these quarterfinal games had fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle blew.

For the first of the two games, unranked Maryland took on No. 3 seed Virginia. The Maryland Terrapins had a 12-7 lead at 10:38 of the fourth quarter. With a five-goal lead, Maryland took their foot off the gas and started to run down the clock; not scoring at all for the remainder of the game. It looked like for yet another year they would head back to Championship weekend, but the Terrapins fell short, returning to College Park not making the semifinals for the first time in six years. Virginia came out on top, giving the Terps more than they could handle. Senior Ryan Conrad had four goals and an assist during the game, including three goals in the fourth to charge the comeback for Virginia. Michael Kraus cashed in with his game-tying goal with 1:14 left. Kraus had the assist on Matt Moore’s overtime game winner, his 40th of the season, ending this game at 13-12.

The second game of the day featured No. 2 Duke and No. 7 Notre Dame. No different from the previous two games earlier this season, where each team had won a game, it was back and forth until the very end. Duke went ahead and put four goals on the board to open this contest. However, the Fighting Irish fought right back. After being academically ineligible for the regular season, Ryder Garnsey was able to compete for the Irish in the postseason. During the first round game, Garnsey dropped a hat trick against Johns Hopkins in a convincing 16-9 win. Saturday, yet once again, Ryder Garnsey started the fire for the Irish putting in four and grabbing the helpers on another two goals. Bryan Costabile and Brendan Gleason had a pair of goals each, railing for five goals in the fourth quarter, grabbing their first lead of the game. Duke would not be stopped, bringing the game to thirteen apiece courtesy of a goal from Jake Seau. But in the end, sophomore, Joe Robertson capitalized being guarded by a short stick, and had the final blow against the Irish; with seconds winding down on the shot clock, he had his third goal of the game, with a final score of 14-13.

With this past weekend of play, we are in store for an exciting slate of games concluding on Memorial Day. No. 2 Duke takes on No. 3 Virginia. For the Blue Devils, they are competing in back to back semifinal games. Last year they lost in the Championship game to a hungry group from Yale. Virginia is returning to the Final Four for the first time since 2011, where they sealed the deal on the program’s fifth NCAA Championship. The winner of this game is set to face off with the victor of No. 1 Penn State and the reigning champs, No. 5 Yale.

Three Village Central School District students are invited to send their stories and photos capturing their perspectives of life to [email protected].

Bulls softball team tripped up in first loss of postseason play

by Bill Landon - May 24, 2019

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Smithtown East’s softball team broke out to a two-run lead in the top of the first inning and West Islip answered back in the bottom of the inning in a Suffolk Class AA quarterfinal round May 22, but from there the Bulls bats went silent. West Islip crept ahead scoring a run in the third, fourth and sixth inning to win the game 5-2. In double elimination play the Bulls, the No. 5 seed, went to the loser bracket where they hosted No. 11 seed Lindenhurst the following day in a must win game to stay alive in the postseason.

The Bulls won out against Lindenhurst, and will face Bellport May 25 to see if they will move on in the bracket May 25 with start at 2 p.m.

Ward Melville Patriots 3rd quarter surge snare Tigers 11-8

by Bill Landon - May 24, 2019

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The Northport Tigers, the Division I No. 3 seed, went to the halftime break protecting a one goal lead, but the Ward Melville Patriots, the No. 2 seed, sparked to life in the 3rd quarter scoring four goals to take the lead for good in the Class A semifinal round winning 11-8 at home May 23.

Junior Jack Gillen led the way for the Patriots scoring three goals with one assist, seniors Dylan Pallonetti had two assists along with two goals and Brandon Aviles found the cage twice.

Sal Micco, a junior, topped the scoring chart for the Tigers stretching the net four times while senior captains Max Napoli and Liam Caulfield had two goals apiece. Northport concludes their 2019 campaign with a 10-5 record, 11-6 overall.

The Patriots will again advance to the Suffolk County championship round at Farmingdale State College May 29 where they’ll face the No.1 seed Smithtown West. Game time is at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the gate or can be purchased online for $8 here: https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI

Middle Country Mad Dogs too much for Bay Shore

by Bill Landon - May 23, 2019

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The Mad Dogs girls lacrosse team got off to a sluggish start against the visiting Bay Shore Marauders falling behind by three early in the quarterfinal round of the Class A playoffs May 20. But Middle Country, the No. 1 seed, got down to business, scoring six unanswered goals to tie the game at 7 to close out the opening half. The Mad Dogs let their sticks do the talking in the second half, scoring seven more goals than their opponent to win the game, 16-9.

Senior midfielder Sophie Alois found the back of the net four times along with an assist. Seniors Jennifer Barry and Sydney Juvelier both had three goals each. Eighth-grader Kate Timarky topped the chart with three goals and three assists. Senior Sydney Corley scored as did sophomores Alexa Cordingley and Alyssa Oddo. Senior goalie Elizabeth Pomaro had four saves on the day.

In victory, Middle Country, 14-2 in the league, advances to the semifinal round where they’ll host Riverhead May 23. Game time is 4 p.m.

Wildcats advance to semi-finals with one impossible shot

by Bill Landon - May 20, 2019

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It was a back and forth battle between the Shoreham-Wading Wildcats and visiting Sayville in the Div-II class C quarterfinal playoff round May 18 with both tied at four goals each at the half. Junior attack Hayden Lachenmeyer scored the go ahead goal for the Wildcats with a seemingly impossible goal for SWR. She lay on the ground but yet managed to get a shot off for the goal. With just over two minutes left, Shoreham-Wading River netted an insurance goal and from there let the clock upwind for a 9-7 victory.

Senior Isabella Meli topped the scoring chart for the Wildcats with an assist and three goals as her younger sister Gabby Meli had an assist and netted two goals. Senior Nicollette Constant scored as did Lachenmeyer with her out-of-nowhere shot while freshman Catherine Erb along with teammate Amanda Padrazo, a junior, had a goal apiece.

The Wildcats as the No. 4 seed advances to the semifinal round and will face top seeded Mount Sinai on the road May 22. Game time is 4 p.m. with a $10 admission ,or tickets can be purchased online for $7at: https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXIWildcats advance to semi-finals with one impossible shot

Ward Melville Patriots punch postseason ticket

by Bill Landon - May 17, 2019

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It’s been a long time since the Patriots softball team has made the playoffs and it all came down to the last game of the regular season at home against Sachem East on senior day.. It would take extra innings to decide the game but Ward Melville punched their ticket to make the postseason on a passed ball in the bottom of the ninth, winning the game, 8-7.

According to head coach Joseph Burger, the Patriots last postseason appearance was back in 2002. Ward Melville senior Kristina Maggiacomo went the distance for the win, pitching nine complete innings striking out six. Maggiacomo had two RBI’s on two hits and eighth-grader Alicea Pepitone drove in two runs on three hits.

At 8-8 in Suffolk league I, the Patriots will be a low seed and have their work cut out for them as there are four out-bracket games May 18 with the opening round of the playoffs Monday, May 20.

Smithtown East Bulls softball team falls to Babylon

by Bill Landon - May 16, 2019

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Smithtown East managed a one-run lead after the opening inning, but the North Babylon bats came alive in the top of the second, scoring three and from there the Bulls’ bats went silent. North Babylon plated two in the top of the fifth as Smithtown East scored a run in the bottom of the second, but it was too little too late as the Bull’s fell 6-3 in a home game May 14.

The bright spot for the Bulls was Sammi Swenson, who ripped a homer over the centerfield fence driving in a run. With the win North Babylon stays atop the League III leaderboard with West Islip in second place and at 11-4 the Bulls are third, two games back.

Smithtown East plays its final game of the regular season May 16 where they’ll host Newfield before they ready their bats for postseason play. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

Middle Country Mad Dogs outrun Ward Melville Patriots

by Bill Landon - May 15, 2019

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The Ward Melville girls lacrosse team kept pace with Middle Country for the first 25 minutes of play, but the Mad Dogs went on a scoring tear outscoring the Patriots 10 goals to 4, to put the game away, 16-9, in a Division I matchup May 10.

Jennifer Barry and Sophie Alois topped the scoring chart for the Mad Dogs with Barry’s two goals and four assists along with Alois’ assist and five goals.

With the win, Middle Country wins the division with a record of 13-1, 14-2 overall. The Patriot loss is only their second of the season. They finished third with a 12-2 record one game behind Northport.

Both teams earned a bye in the opening round of the playoffs and are back in action May 20 where Middle Country will host the winner of the May 17 Sachem East vs. Bay Shore game, and the Patriots will be at home to take on either Sachem North or Smithtown West. Game times have yet to be determined.

Mount Sinai Mustangs outrun Tornadoes

by Bill Landon - May 15, 2019

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The Harborfields Tornadoes girls lacrosse team hung with Mount Sinai for the first 25 minutes of play, trailing by one at the half, but the Mustangs turned up the heat, scoring four times in the final period to ink out a 8-4 win on the road May 9.

As the regular season concludes for both teams, Mount Sinai enters the postseason with a 12-2 record and only one game behind Division II leader Eastport/South Manor. Harborfields enters the playoff picture at 7-7, where they’ll host Hauppauge in the opening round May 18 with game time at 4:00 p.m. Mount Sinai will begin their title quest as the top seed in Class C, earning them a bye in the opening round and will play the winner of the Sayville and Shoreham-Wading River game at home May 22 at 4:00 p.m. Admission is $8, and students with valid ID is $5.

Local veterans and fallen heroes honored in 184-mile Island-wide run

by David Luces - May 11, 2019

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Running and completing a marathon is quite an ambitious task for the average person, but Eva Casale is not the average person. On April 27 she began her journey of running seven marathons — a total of 184 miles — in seven days.

For the fourth year in a row, the Glen Cove resident toured the Island on foot for a week-long run called “Every Veteran Appreciated Week” to honor our troops, veterans and fallen heroes. Her initiative also supports services and programs for the national nonprofit organization Hope for the Warriors.

“We felt it was so important to remember all of those individuals who served our country, especially here on the Island.”

— Eva Casale

Casale led Team E.V.A. throughout the week and each marathon completed was focused on honoring local serviceman killed in action and was linked to their local communities. At the conclusion of the week, Team E.V.A. visited more than 106 points of honor and laid more than 250 flowers in memory of fallen soldiers. Eva and her team finished the run May 3 in Copiague with a closing ceremony at the Copiague Fire Department.

The week-long tour took along teams of runners to Farmingdale, Shelter Island, Sag Harbor, Calverton, Westhampton, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, West Sayville and Medford.

“We are doing this to honor our fallen heroes on Long Island,” Cascale said at the April 27 kickoff event in Huntington. “Today is very exciting.”

The Glen Cove resident said during the week it is emotional as they visit a lot of memorials and resting places in the area.

“We felt it was so important to remember all of those individuals who served our country, especially here on the Island,” she explained.

Casale has been running marathons for more than 30 years and she said she has this gift to run long distances and thought it was important to use it for a good cause.

Suffolk County legislator and head of veterans committee Susan Berland (D-Dix Hills) thanked Eva for doing the week-long tour. “To do what she does, it is not only superhuman, but it also brings attention to the veterans we have in Suffolk County, how we have to take care of them and provide them with the services they need,” the legislator said. “She is an incredible woman and athlete.”

Tom Ronayne, head of the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency, called Eva an inspiration.

“In my view, this is just a wonderful thing,” he said. “This reunites our communities and bring people together for a common purpose and looking forward to continuing this for many years to come.”

Casale said a highlight of her journey is meeting many Gold Star families on the Island and hearing their stories. It reminds her of what she is running for.

During the week-long run, Casale is joined by a crew of fellow runners and members of the community also join her throughout the journey.

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