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Bill Landon

An annual community philanthropic initiative recently returned for its latest installment.

Shoreham-Wading River High School hosted the 15th annual Lax Out Cancer fundraising event on Saturday, May 13. This community staple was organized by the lacrosse program in conjunction with the Wildcat Athletic Club and local businesses. The funds raised will help boost awareness while supporting four local families currently battling cancer.

The East Islip boys lacrosse team came to support the event, giving up a home game to help bolster the cause. The Ward Melville girls lacrosse team was also on hand, participating alongside SWRā€™s junior varsity teams and the Suffolk Police Athletic League.

There were games for the spectators, music and entertainment, silent auctions and apparel sales. The grills at the concession stand never cooled off.

Shorehamā€™s own Carter Rubin ā€” season 19 winner of ā€œThe Voice” ā€” sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem just before the varsity teams took the field.

The Wildcats took command early, holding off a late game surge and winning the game 14-5.

Contributions can be sent to Lax Out Cancer ā€“ SWRWAC at www.swrwac.org/?page_id=2478.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

It was all Kate Timarky for the Middle Country girls lacrosse team Monday afternoon, May 8, when the senior midfielder rattled off five goals in the first six minutes of play.

In this Div. I home game against Half Hollow Hills, Middle Country closed out the first half with a four-goal advantage. But the Mad Dogs exploded in the second half, peppering the scoreboard with eight more, putting the game away 18-9.

Notre Dame-bound Timarky led her team in scoring with five assists and eight goals. Teammates Olivia Annunziata finished with five goals and two assists, and Juliana Speziale notched a pair of assists along with three goals. Goalie Jamie Cuozzo, a senior, had 10 saves in net.

With the victory, Middle Country improves to 8-4 in the division with two games left in the regular season before playoffs begin Tuesday, May 16.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

Saturday afternoon, May 6, marked the 3rd annual Mike Bowler Day, a day of remembrance for Rocky Pointā€™s legendary head coach who had led the boys lacrosse program for 43 seasons.

Bowler, who established the boys lacrosse program in 1978, died in December 2019. During his tenure, he amassed more than 600 wins, leading his team to a state championship in 2008. In 2020, he was named New York State Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Sports, an award presented to those who have made the most profound impact on the lives of student-athletes in their respective sports.

The event was met with warm temperatures and brilliant sunshine, after which the Eagles took on Mattituck/Greenport/Southold in a Div. II contest.

Mattituck set the tone early, taking a 3-1 lead after the first quarter of play. The Tuckers extended their lead to five goals by halftime. Rocky Point struggled late in cutting into the deficit, falling to the Tuckers 12-6.

Rocky Pointā€™s Kyle Moore and Ryan Meyers each scored twice, while teammates Colton Feinberg and Ryan Negus both scored. Freshman goalie DJ Xavier had eight stops in net.

The loss drops the Eagles to 5-6 with two games remaining before postseason play begins.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

At 11-3, the Port Jefferson Royals ā€” the defending Long Island champions ā€” sat comfortably in second place, enjoying an 11-game winning streak. That is until the 3-10 Amityville Warriors came to town.Ā 

In the second of a three-game series at Diamond in the Pines on Thursday, May 4, the Warriors snapped the Royalsā€™ streak. The Warriors scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking the lead. Port Jeff made a pitching change the following inning, but the bats went quiet, unable to rally back, falling to Amityville 7-3.Ā 

Ruairi Rago managed the only hit for the Royals on the day while finding his way home. Teammate Natti Mullen crossed the plate twice.Ā 

The deciding contest of this series took place the following afternoon, May 5, when each team put double-digit runs on the scoreboard. The Royals scored two more, though, winning the game 12-10 and taking two out of three games against the Warriors.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

It was all Miller Place on a rainy Saturday afternoon, April 29, when the Panthers hosted the Smithtown West Bulls in a Div. II matchup.

Miller Place had secured a 7-2 lead by the halftime break. Smithtown Westā€™s struggles continued in the second half, with Miller Place controlling the pace the rest of the way. The Panthers put the game away 15-4.

Mirabella Altebrando led the way for the Panthers with six assists. Olivia Coffey netted four goals while teammates Isabella Luisa and Hayden Young each scored three goals apiece. Natalia Altebrando had eight saves on the day.

Smithtown Westā€™s Jolie Schiavo scored twice for the Bulls, and Ashley Mennella and teammate Laura Luikart both scored.

The win lifts Miller Place to 6-5 in their division, while the Bulls dropped to 5-6 with three games remaining before postseason play begins.

Both teams are back in action Wednesday, May 3, when Miller Place hosts Eastport-South Manor, and Smithtown West hits the road for an away game against Greenport-Southold-Mattituck. Both games begin at 4:00 p.m.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

West Babylon came knocking on Comsewogue’s door Thursday night, April 27, in a Div. II contest in which both teams held matching records at 3-6. The Warriors relentlessly pursued victory, though it would take five overtime periods to determine them the victor.

West Babylon scored back-to-back goals in the opening minutes of the second half, edging ahead 7-4. But the Warriors’ offense came thundering back, rattling off three unanswered goals of their own and tying the game at 7-7 with two minutes left in regulation.

Neither team could find the cage as the time on the clock expired, forcing overtime. Scoreless through the first four three-minute overtime periods, Comsewogue freshman Vienna Guzman’s stick would be the difference maker, breaking the stalemate and winning the game 8-7.

Comsewogue’s Gianna McNulty scored and had two assists. Teammates Gabby Constant and Kamryn McCrary scored two goals apiece. Freshman goalie Isabella Borruso had seven saves on the night.

The win lifts the Warriors to 4-6 in their division with four games remaining before postseason play begins.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

Not having won since their opening game of the season against Mattituck back in March, the Mad Dogs of Middle Country desperately needed a win to snap a seven-game losing streak. Opportunity knocked when the Riverhead Blue Waves came calling on Saturday, April 22.

Protecting a one-goal lead at the halftime break, senior attack Charles Cavalieri split the pipes in the opening minute of the second half to put his team out front 4-2. But the Blue Waves countered with a pair of goals halfway through the third quarter to make it a new game at four-all.

Cavalieriā€™s stick spoke again to put the Mad Dogs back out front when his younger brother, Jack, buried his shot to push ahead 6-4. But the Blue Waves answered with a goal near the finish to trail by just one. Middle Country held on, though, edging the Blue Waves 8-6 in the Div. I contest.

Charles Cavalieri topped the scoring chart for the Mad Dogs with two goals and two assists. Aidan Eck had one goal and two assists. Jack Cavalieri and Andrew DiMondo scored two goals each, and Joseph Grottola scored. Goalie Logan Hoenig had 11 saves in net.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon

Royals notch first win over Bellport

Eager to pick up their first win of this early season, the Port Jefferson Royals did just that, winning 11-5 in a Div. II road game against Bellport on Thursday afternoon, April 20.Ā 

The team’s young talent made its mark. Sophomore Ryan Filippi led the way for the Royals with four goals and three assists. Teammate Rowan Casey, a freshman, scored three goals and had two assists. Sophomore Patrick Johnston had three assists and scored.Ā 

Senior Matthew Buonomo scored twice with an assist, and Jonah Pflaster also found the net. Port Jeff’s freshman goalie Owen Whiffen had 12 saves in net.

The Royals will look to make it two in a row with another road game on Monday, April 24, when they face Sayville (3-4) at 5:00 p.m.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon



Renee Stockenā€™s bat set the tone early when the senior ripped a grand slam to put the Panthers out front 4-0 in a road game against Riverhead on Saturday, April 8.Ā 

Miller Place, undefeated in the first four games of the season, continued to tack on the runs, putting the game away 11-2 in this non-league matchup. Sophomore Ava Zicchinelli pitched a complete game, striking out 12 batters to help her team improve to 5-0 in League VII.Ā 

The Panthers retake the field Wednesday with a road game against Sayville. Gametime is slated for 5:00 p.m.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon



The Comsewogue bats spoke loudly in the bottom of the second inning when Laurel Chiaino, with bases loaded, drove in three runs with a stand-up double, followed by Emma Shorts driving in two more to put the Warriors out front 9-2. This lead, however, wouldnā€™t last long.

The visiting Sharks of Eastport-South Manor rallied in the top of the third with seven runs of their own to make it a new game at 9-all. Comsewogue showed discipline at the plate, laying off several pitches and drawing the walks to inch ahead to lead by five runs in the bottom of the third, but ESM wouldnā€™t go quietly, mustering another surge in the closing innings to retie the game at 16-all.

The youngest player on the Comsewogue roster made the difference when seventh grader Adrianna Napolitano, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, ripped a single and drove in the winning run, securing the Warriors the 17-16 victory in this League VII contest on April 3.

Comsewogue will hit the road with a pair of away games before returning home Wednesday, April 12, to face the Rocky Point Eagles. The first pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.

ā€” Photos by Bill Landon