Mount Sinai senior guard Margaret Kopcienski lays up for two drawing the foul against Longwood Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior guard Margaret Kopcienski looks for the open shooter Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior guard Margaret Kopcienski sets up the play Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Brooke Cergol shoots from the top of the key Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
9th grader Kylie Budke shoots over a Longwood defender Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai freshman Kylie Budke drives around a Longwood defender Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Gabby Sartori drives the baseline against Longwood’s Taydra Simpson Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior forward Holly McNair battles down low Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior forward Holly McNair passes to an open shooter Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Brooke Cergol shoots from the top of the key Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Gabby Sartori lays up for two of her team high 15 points Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior guard Gabby Sartori shoots over a Longwood defender Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Gabby Sartori fights her way to the basket Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman guard Casey Campo lets a 3-pointer fly Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior guard Brooke Cergol scores two of her 12 points Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior guard Brooke Cergol shoots for two Feb. 27. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
It was a battle of the titans Feb. 27 as the Mustangs of Mount Sinai (21-3), the Class A small school champions, squared off against the Longwood Lions (21-2), the Class AA large school winners, for the overall Suffolk title.
The Lions outpaced the Mustangs for most of the way to capture the overall Suffolk crown at Walt Whitman High School with a 70-45 victory. They will advance to the Class AA Long Island Championship round.
Senior Gabby Sartori, who had led the way for several games in the playoffs, again set the pace of her team in scoring with two triples, two field goals and five from the line for 15 points. Senior Brooke Cergol hit three field goals and two treys for 12 while senior Margaret Kopcienski banked 11.
Mount Sinai lives to fight another day as they too will compete against Nassau County’s best in Class A action March 9 at Farmingdale State College. Tip-off is at noon.
Patriots powerhouse wins two 1-0 games for first state crown since 2008
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Kerri Thornton brings the ball through midfield with a Maine-Endwell opponent at her hip. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kate Mulham bsttles for the ball. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kerri Thornton defends. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Lexi Reinhardt leads the pack up the field. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Caitlin Evans dribbles the ball down the sideline. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Cat Dolce carries the ball up the field. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kerri Thornton brings the ball through midfield with a Maine-Endwell opponent at her hip. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Shannon Coughlan sends the ball up the field. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Jillian Bove sends the ball up the field. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kate Mulham sends a shot toward the cage. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kerri Thornton blocks a pass. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Lexi Reinhardt pivots around a defender. hoto by Bruce Larrabee
Kate Mulham carries the ball into her Maine-Endwell's territory. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Shannon Coughlan dribbles the ball between defenders. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Lexi Reinhardt maintains possession as a Maine-Endwell opponent fights for a turnover. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
A Ward Melville coach gets emotional watching the girls celebrate the Class A state championship field hockey win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kate Mulham shouts in ceelbration of the state title win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kate Mulham and Kerri Thornton embrace one another after the pair connected for the game-winning goal. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kerri Thornton and Lexi Reinhardt greet each other in the middle of the huddle after the state championship win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Caitlin Evans gets emotional following the win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville fans cheer on the Patriots following their win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville field hockey team family members snap photos of their loved ones after the state title game win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville fans greet the Patriots as they run to the opposite side of the field after that state win. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Shannon Coughlan and Kate Mulham kiss the state plaque. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
The Ward Melville field hockey team smiles in celebration of the program's first state crown since 2009. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville's field hockey team won two 1-0 games upstate for a Class A state championship crown. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Caitlin Evans, Kate Mulham, Sydney Tasman and Shannon Coughlan surround the state plaque. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Shannon Coughlan, Kate Mulham and Caitlin Evans raise the state banner. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville field hockey players take a bite of their new hardware. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Ward Melville's field hockey team edged Maine-Endwell 1-0 with an overtime goal for the Class A state titel. Photo by Bruce Larrabee
Kerri Thornton has become a thorn in the side of her opponents.
The senior standout scored Ward Melville’s game-winning goal in overtime to help the Patriots bring home the first Class A state title in field hockey since 2008 with a 1-0 win over Maine-Endwell on their field Nov. 12.
“At first, I honestly did not think it went in,” Thornton said. “When Kate [Mulham] got the back ball, I ran back into the circle and got ready for her to send it in. When she did, I received it, and just turned around and shot it hard hoping that it would go in.”
As Thornton’s teammates surrounded her in celebration, she said she knew what she’d done.
“I let out a huge shout in relief,” she said as she saw the smiling faces racing toward her. “It has been our dream ever since we were kids to win a championship like this. The journey this season — as a senior this year — this was what I wanted. I’m just so proud of my team for putting in the time and effort to get to where we got. It’s incredible that we finally pulled it off.”
The game-winning goal was scored with 4:37 left in overtime. Mulham said despite the team’s perfect 21-0 record, losing in the state final and semifinal games in extra minutes in the last two years lingered in the back of their minds. She said despite coming up just short in recent years, she knew the qualities her surrounding teammates possessed.
“What makes Ward Melville field hockey different is that we field a team where every girl is extremely talented,” she said. “Overtime is a high-pressure situation, but I was confident. That’s what makes us so successful.”
She said when she heard her classmate calling for the ball from the circle, she knew what she had to do.
“All I could see was a swarm of defenders when I passed the ball to Kerri,” Mulham said. “But I heard her calling for it, and I trust her, so I sent it to her. When I saw it go into the net, I broke down — tears of joy, and I rushed to hug her so tightly. I never wanted something so badly, and to accomplish something like this with your best friends is a feeling I can’t even put into words.”
With the intensity up and with a huge target on its back, Ward Melville began its journey upstate Nov. 11. With a second trip to the finals in three years on the line, junior Lexi Reinhardt was the first Patriot to jump for joy. Long Island’s leading goal scorer (33 points on 24 goals and nine assists) found the back of the cage in another pressure-filled situation. With 23 seconds left in the first half of a 0-0 game with Baldwinsville, she scored off an assist from senior Shannon Coughlan to send Ward Melville to the finals.
“The play was on a corner and in these games corners are precious,” Reinhardt said. “It was just a great pass from Shannon Coughlan and I was in the right position to finish it.”
She said the Patriots wanted to make a statement being back in the state semifinal game for the third year in a row.
“Heading in, there was definitely some nerves, but I think we channeled that and we were able to play off of the energy of the situation,” she said. “During the game we didn’t focus on that though, we were just focused on playing our game, and winning. The joy and happiness that we feel has radiated throughout the entire program. I will never forget this team.”
Lexi Reinhardt and Shannon Coughlan are surrounded by teammates in celebration of the win. Photo by Bill Landon
Lexi Reinhardt scores the uncontested game-winning goal. Photo by Bill Landon
Kate Mulham fires a shot. Photo by Bill Landon
Elizabeth Wang carries the ball up the field with a Sachem East defender racing alongside her. Photo by Bill Landon
Jill Bove dribbles the ball in the air. Photo by Bill Landon
Shannon Coughlan breaks away with the ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville's Kerri Thornton sends a pass across the field. Photo by Bill Landon
Lexi Reinhardt celebrates what would end up being the game-winning goal over Sachem East with teammates Shannon Coughlan, Kate Mulham and Kerri Thornton. Photo by Bill Landon
Shannon Coughlan and Lexi Reinhardt kiss the championship plaque. Photo by Bill Landon
The Ward Melville field hockey team tallied its third striaght Suffolk County Class A title with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Sachem East Oct. 28. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Lexi Reinhardt wasn’t concerned about being down 1-0, even with just 12 minutes left in the game.
Poised and prepared, Ward Melville’s junior field hockey standout slammed home the Patriots’ two goals in 2-1 come-from-behind win over Sachem East Oct. 28 for the program’s third straight Suffolk County Class A title.
“We were just trying to stay positive, keep the pressure going,” she said. “It took us a little while to come back, but we knew we had to work together and get the ball in the net. And that’s what we did.”
After a scoreless first half, Sachem East’s Emily Rodriguez broke the ice at the 25-minute mark.
The Flaming Arrows’ defense proved it was up to the task of guarding against a Ward Melville attack that outscored opponents 62-13 during the regular season, but senior midfielder Kate Mulham said she knew it was only a matter of time until her Patriots would strike.
“Our team prides itself on its composure and our ability to be resilient even when faced with adversity, like being down 1-0 to a really strong team like Sachem East,” the co-captain said. “We all know our individual strengths and our team’s strengths, and we knew that if we kept up our style of play eventually the goals would fall.”
Reinhardt relished in a penalty shot attempt, and fired home a goal to tie the game with 11:27 left to play. With 4:50 left in regulation, junior forward Caitlin Evans scooped up possession amid a pile of players off a corner attempt, and flicked a pass to Reinhardt, who put the game away with the go-ahead goal.
“It was great to get that stroke to break the ice a little bit and to keep our attack pushing and pushing,” Ward Melville head coach Shannon Sioss said. “[Sachem East’s] defense was extremely strong today, and we were just lucky that we had a lot of opportunities. We had our fingers crossed that hopefully we would be able to break through that defense at least once.”
The Patriots extend their undefeated streak to 18-0, and will represent Suffolk in the Long Island regional championship game against Massapequa Nov. 1 at Newfield High School at 2:30 p.m.
“Winning county championship brings a lot of pride to us — it’s a confidence booster and we’re going to carry it on to our next game,” Reinhardt said. “Hopefully win and keep this streak going with this positive vibe as we go on.”
Mad Dogs win program’s first state semifinal game, fall in overtime in Class A state final
The Middle Country girls lacrosse team at a banquet upstate following the team's first Class A state semifinal win. Photo from Amanda Masullo
It wasn’t the ending the Middle Country girls lacrosse team had hoped for, but the Mad Dogs returned from the trip upstate with a few more firsts for the program.
The team had already nabbed the elusive Suffolk County Class A title with a 13-3 win over Northport, and another first with a Long Island championship crown following a 10-9 edging of Massapequa.
As a result, the Mad Dogs had the opportunity to take their first trip upstate. In the semifinals against North Rockland, the team continued its magical run, and the Masullo twins led the way. Amanda scored six goals and Rachel had four goals and two assists in a decisive 20-7 win at SUNY-Cortland June 9.
Amanda Masullo. File photo by Bill Landon
“Helping my team win the semifinal game, and doing it along with my twin sister was a great experience, and it made me so proud of my team,” said Rachel Masullo, who added she knew she and her twin had to step up their game in the wake of Jamie Ortega and Ava Barry being face-guarded for much of the game. “Assisting my teammates is also a great feeling though, knowing that I was a part of our push forward on the field.”
She said she enjoyed sharing the moments she and her sister had together on the field, often assisting on each other’s goals.
“It’s easy for me and Amanda to connect on the field, because we’re always together and we know what each other is going to do,” Masullo said. “Making it this far with my team was what we’ve been striving for all these years, and to make it as a senior and to have my best friends by my side made it that much better.”
Amanda Masullo also had words regarding her sister.
“She’s the one that makes me work harder, and be better,” she said. “I’m so grateful for that.”
Although Ortega, the nation’s No. 1 lacrosse prospect who is bound for the University of South Carolina and also became New York’s all-time leading scorer during the Long Island championship win, was the main focus of the North Rockland defense, she still managed to make her presence felt, netting five goals and adding three assists. But the Masullos quickly put Middle Country ahead of North Rockland (18-3).
Rachel Masullo. File photo by Bill Landon
“We always have plays to get me open,” Ortega said of being heavily guarded. “Usually I can get out of them, so I’m pretty used to it by now.”
Consecutive goals from Amanda Masullo late in the first half pushed the lead to 8-1, including a score in which she picked up a ground ball and sprinted around nearly the entire defense for a close look at the cage. Then, when North Rockland threatened by closing the deficit to four goals at 9-5, Rachel Masullo scored twice to push the lead back to six.
Those two tallies started a run in which Middle Country scored 10 of the final 12 goals. Barry scored each of her three goals in that span. Her second goal gave Middle Country a 16-6 lead with 12:44 remaining, prompting the running clock that comes with a 10-goal advantage.
“Our defense was very strong this weekend,” Rachel Masullo said. “And Jamie, Ava and Jen [Barry, Ava’s younger sister] dominated on the draw, which made it that much easier.”
Following the win, Middle Country battled Pittsford, another team that had yet to win a state title. Ortega sent a rocket shot on a player-up situation for the equalizer late in the game, and won the ensuing draw for the Mad Dogs, who held on for a final shot, but Pittsford’s Michelle Messenger saved a skip-shot with four seconds left to ensure overtime. Middle Country ended up losing, 10-9, in overtime.
“The game’s never over until the buzzer goes off,” said Ortega, who had four goals and an assist and finished her varsity career with 588 points, more than any girls lacrosse player in state history. “We know how fast we can score a goal. It could be 10 seconds.”
Jamie Ortega. Photo by Bill Landon
The run to tie wouldn’t have been possible without the help of all of the Middle Country starters. Pittsford led 5-2 before a 5-0 run spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, bookended by Ortega goals that gave Middle Country a 7-5 lead. Ava Barry scored twice and assisted on both of Ortega’s goals — the second tied the game — and Sophie Alois, who scored the opening goal of the game, gave the Mad Dogs the lead for the second time, scoring the opening goal of the second half to bring the score to 6-5.
“I think it was a mood changer to score the opening goal of each half,” Alois said. “Our coach always says that energy is contagious, and today, my teammates all created an encouraging and energetic environment that everyone fed off of. I was just happy to add onto it.”
Alois said her team knew the pressure was on, and Pittsford answered with a 4-0 spurt of its own for the 9-7 lead that added extra weight back onto the Mad Dogs’ shoulders.
“We emphasized remaining calm, dodging and moving the ball quickly,” Alois said. “It’s easy to throw the ball away or rush a play when pressure is present. When I got the ball, I knew the importance of every possession. With this in mind, I made sure to fake my shot and place it to ensure a point for my team.”
Rachel Masullo fed Barry to pull within one, 9-8, and Ortega tied things up to force two three-minute overtime sessions. With the game still tied 9-9 at the end of the first three minutes, the teams switched sides, and a Pittsford (20-1) free position shot that was initially saved rolled in with 1:55 left to end the game.
Ava Barry. Photo by Bill Landon
“I think our mentality really helped spark a comeback,” Alois said. “Every timeout or stoppage of play, we all gave each other constant reminders that the game wasn’t over and that anything was possible. We kept playing until the final seconds.”
Following the final seconds, Ortega was still shaken up by the loss.
“I didn’t want my last game ever to represent Middle Country to end like that,” she said. “I just knew my team needed me and I needed to be there for them. Now that it’s over, it feels like a piece of me is gone, but I couldn’t be happier on how far we went and how hard we worked and pushed each other. These last few years have really been a journey.”
After the dust settled, Rachel Masullo said she thought some sloppy plays and minor mistakes contributed to the team’s collapse. Her sister said the team wasn’t used to battling against a tough defense, adding she was disappointed the team couldn’t pull through for who she thought really deserved it.
“No matter how much we were down, or how much time we had left, whether it be 10 minutes or two, our coaches never let us give up,” Amanda Masullo said. “The whole team not only wanted to win for each other, but for them, because they really deserve it. I’m just upset that we couldn’t pull through for them.”
Sophie Alois carries the ball to the crease. Photo by Bill Landon
Rachel Masullo said she thought the motivation and determination the team showed in battling back is what Middle Country athletics is all about, and she’s proud of how she’ll be leaving the program.
“This program has made me into not only a better lacrosse player, but a better person all around,” she said. “I won’t ever forget what this team has taught me these past five years, and I definitely made memories that will last a lifetime.”
Amanda Masullo said teams better continue to watch out for Middle Country.
“I’ve seen us go from the team who everyone knew they could beat, the team that would go crazy when we finally won a game, to the team who no other team wanted to play because they were afraid,” she said. “That’s something that amazes me, and thinking about it, it makes me realize that me and the other seniors have something to do with that. I’m grateful to have been able to play alongside these other amazing girls, and I will never forget how far we’ve come, and the history we made along the way.”
Middle Country’s Rachel Masullo hoists up her team’s new hardware after Middle Country outscored Northport 13-3 ofr the program’s first Suffolk County championship. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Patriots power through Massapequa for second straight Long Island title
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Ward Melville's boys' lacrosse team reaches for the championship plaque after the Patriots' second consecutive Long Island championship title. Ward Melville outscored Massapequa 8-5. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Cassidy Perry scoops up a loose ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart leans in to a defender as he makes his way down the sideline. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti sends a shot sailing toward the net. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz keeps the ball out of reach for Massapequa. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Zach Hobbes and Dominic Pryor race after a Massapequa opponent. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dominic Pryor rockets a shot toward the cage. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matthrew Citroen defends against Massapequa. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville players huddle together after a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart scores on a behind-the-head shot for Ward Melville. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz passes the ball across the field. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Zach Hobbes moves the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Cassidy Perry waits to make his move. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Liam Davenport celebrates his goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz carries the ball around the outside. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti carries the ball around the cage. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart scoops up a ground ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matthew Cirrone keeps Massapequa outside the circle. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz moves the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti looks to pass the ball to Andrew Lockart. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Liam Davenport fires the game-winning shot. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti celebrates after assisting on Andrew Lockhart's goal that put Ward Melville up 5-4. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz defends. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz races for the loose ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti carries the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew McKenna defends against Massapequa. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Brandon Aviles carries the ball into Massapequa's zone after winning a face-off. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart protects the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart shoots. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dominic Pryor embraces a coach following the win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart embraces a coach following Ward Melville' Long Island championship win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart and Eddie Munoz embrace one another following the win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart and Perry Cassidy hug it out following the win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's captains accept the Long Island championship plaque. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's boys' lacrosse team celebrates its win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville outscored Massapequa 8-5 for the Patriots' second straight Long Island championship title. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Call him Perry the protector.
In the final three minutes of the third quarter, with Ward Melville’s boys’ lacrosse team up 5-4 over Nassau County champion Massapequa, Perry Cassidy made three saves, and opened the fourth quarter with another, before his team scored three goals in three minutes en route to an 8-5 Class A Long Island championship victory. The Long Island championship win for Ward Melville was its second straight and 18th in program history.
“I was trying to do anything to keep our team in it,” said Cassidy of his back-to-back-to-back saves on the left corner to end the third. He made 10 stops in the win. “I didn’t want to go home not being able to play with my brothers again.”
At the 6:14 mark of the stanza, senior Andrew Lockhart put the Patriots ahead for the first time, 5-4, when he cut to the crease and received a backdoor pass from sophomore Dylan Pallonetti.
“We talked about it,” Pallonetti said of connecting with Lockhart. “We said we were going to watch each other on the crease, and back-doored them two times, and got them.”
Pallonetti also assisted on Lockhart’s game-tying behind-the-back goal at the 6:38 mark of the second quarter, to knot things up 3-3.
“I love playing with Dylan, he’s a great player and we have great chemistry,” Lockhart said. “He did all the work — gave me the ball where he knew I could shoot and score.”
Up to that point, Ward Melville had been playing catch up, with Pallonetti and senior Zach Hobbes (three goals) scoring the first two goals to tie the game at 2-2 to end the first quarter. Hobbes had another tying goal with 9:21 left in the first half, to make the score 4-all.
Ward Melville knew it was only a matter of time before a high-powered Massapequa offense would make another move. But Cassidy was up to the task.
“I always have the best shooters trying to score on me during warm-ups,” Cassidy said. “I felt good.”
He said the sideline chants and cheers motivated him to keep protecting the cage, along with the motivation to remain on the playoff ride for as long as possible. Lockhart said it was the saves that fueled a three-goal run from the 10-minute to six-minute mark of the fourth, with the game-winner coming off the first of those goals, from senior Liam Davenport with 9:41 left to play.
“Perry stood on his head like he’s been doing all season,” Lockhart said. “He kept us in the game, which got us pumped for our second-half run.”
He added that for him, being able to put on the practice pinnie on Monday was all the motivation he needed.
“All of us seniors have been talking about this moment since we were kids,” Lockhart said. “And we’re dictating the terms to our opponents.”
Ward Melville will prepare for the Class A state semifinals at the University at Albany June 7 at 4 p.m. But Cassidy said the team doesn’t need a run-through.
Patriots avenge 11-10 loss to Smithtown East in 2015 Class A finals
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Jack Purdy and Noah Kepes chest bump in celebration of Ward Melville's come-from-behind win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz winds up to shoot. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Zach Hobbes reaches for the loose ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Jack Purdy celebrates what ends up becoming Ward Melville's game-winning empty net goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Smithtown East's Connor DeSimone moves around the side of the goal while Ward Melville's Andrew McKenna defends. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Dylan Pallonetti, Dominic Pryor and Zach Hobbes celebrate a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Smithtown East's Conor Rowan tries to push his way around Ward Melville's Zach Hobbes. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Jack Purdy, Dominic Pryor and Zach Hobbes celebrate a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Smithtown East's Mike Latini shoots. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Zach Hobbes moves the ball through fallen Smithtown East defenders. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew McKenna carries the ball into Smithtown East's zone. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Matt Grillo scoops up a ground ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Smithton East's Mike Latini and Luke Eschbach celebrate a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz celebrates one of his goals. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz shoots through Smithtown East defenders. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Andrew McKenna keeps Smithtown East's Connor DeSimone outside of the circle. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Dominic Pryor defends against Smithtown East's Luke Eschbach. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Dylan Pallonetti maintains possession of the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dominic Pryor celebrated his goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melvilles Zach Hobbes moves the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz pulls back to shoot. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Matt Grillo battles for the ground ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville's Zach Hobbes winds up to shoot. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville' Jack Prudy scores the game-winning goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Noah Kepes is all smiles following the win. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville edged out Smithton East, 9-8, for the Patriots' second consecutive Suffolk County Class A championship title. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Being down 5-1 in the Suffolk County Class A finals didn’t scare the Patriots — it fueled them.
According to senior Eddie Munoz, Ward Melville coaches say lacrosse is a game of runs, and all the team needed was a run to get back in it.
So Ward Melville’s Zach Hobbes scored twice in a four-run spurt across the end of the first half and beginning of the second, and Munoz capped it off with an unassisted goal to tie the game, en route to a 9-8 win for Ward Melville over Smithtown East May 31.
“Down 5-1 is tough to come back from, but we made our run at the right time,” Munoz said. “And we didn’t stop.”
After senior Mike Marino scored off an assist from senior Mike Latini for Smithtown East, Munoz was quick to help tie it up again, when he scored his hat trick goal off a pass from Hobbes. Senior Dominic Pryor scored next off a feed from classmate Andrew Lockhart, but Smithtown East senior Connor DeSimone tied it up for
the Bulls.
DeSimone was held off the scoreboard besides one assist, thanks to Ward Melville senior Andrew McKenna, who was tasked with guarding one of Long Island’s leading goal scorers.
“I know he’s a very good player, but I’ve [gone up against] a lot of good players,” McKenna said. “He’s one of Long Island’s best, but knowing I have a great defense around me and a great goalkeeper behind me in Perry Cassidy made me all the more confident.”
Watching his defenseman lean in to help with a dodge on the next play, Munoz said he decided to step into it, hoping Pryor would find him with a pass. With little time to think, Munoz decided to send the ball to senior Noah Kepes, who finished his shot to put Ward Melville back on top, 8-7.
“When Dom passed the ball, I knew I was a little far out, so I took one glance at the crease in my windup, I saw Noah there and I couldn’t not pass it to him,” Munoz said. “It was a great catch, a great handle and a great finish.”
Senior Jack Purdy tacked on an empty netter for what the Patriots thought would be an insurance goal, but Smithtown East’s Dominic Pizzulli found the netting with 22.1 seconds left, and Ward Melville’s defense was able to hold the Bulls off after senior Brian Herber’s faceoff win.
“We were resilient,” McKenna said. “Down 5-1 we still went out there and competed, gave 100 percent on every play and played good, hard, smart lacrosse.”
He said it’s been a dream ever since he was a kid to make it to this point in his senior year with his longtime Patriots surrounding him, and they agreed.
“We needed to get back here,” Munoz said. “I couldn’t let us lose today. This is a dream come true.”
Ward Melville will play Massapequa in the Long Island Championship June 3 at 10 a.m. at Stony Brook University.
The Mount Sinai softball team raises up its championship plaque following a 8-1 win over Westhampton-Beach. Photo by Alex Petroski
Before 2015, Mount Sinai’s softball team had never won a Suffolk Class A title. Now, the county crowns are coming in bunches.
The Mustangs completed their Suffolk schedule a perfect 22-0 with an 8-1 victory in the championship game against Westhampton Beach May 27 at Mount Sinai High School. Junior Emma Wimmer led the way with a complete game, eight-strikeout performance on the mound and went 2-for-3 with four RBIs at the plate — including a three-run homerun in the fifth.
Emma Wimmer throws a pitch. Photo by Alex Petroski
“Couldn’t happen to a better kid,” head coach Thomas Tilton said of Wimmer’s big day. He praised his starter and sophomore pitcher Julia Golino for their season-long dominance in the circle. “We have a two-headed dinosaur here — we have a kid that’s 12-0 and another kid that’s 10-0. So on any given day, either one of them can go, and they do their job.”
Golino served as a catalyst for the offense against Westhampton, chipping in three doubles and scoring two runs in the blowout win. She’s been one of many underclassmen to step up for the Mustangs throughout the course of the 2017 season, and given her age, could be a sign that the three straight championships might only be the beginning.
“I think being younger helped us,” Golino said. “We’ve gained experience through this, and we’re only going to grow through the years.”
Wimmer, who will also be back to make a run at four straight county titles in 2018, expressed a similar sentiment.
“It’s good because you get to work with them throughout all the years, and everyone’s just progressively getting better,” she said. “We’re all growing up together basically.”
Julia Golino hits one of her three doubles. Photo by Alex Petroski
Before Wimmer’s big swing in the fifth, Mount Sinai led 4-1 thanks to two sacrifice flies from tenth graders — one by Holly McNair in the third and another by Ilexa Skulnick before Wimmer’s homer in the fifth — and several baserunners taking the extra base on fly outs and wild pitches. Following the semifinal win, Tilton repeatedly used the word “gritty” to describe his team, and the same toughness and willingness to grind out at-bats characterized the performance Saturday before Wimmer blew the game open.
“We were hitting it hard, they just weren’t falling in,” Tilton said. “It was just a matter of time. They were playing us deep and we were just trying to hit the ball in front of them.”
Westhampton made Wimmer work early on the mound. The first two batters reached on a single and a walk to start the game, but two strikeouts with runners on second and third eliminated the threat in the top of the first. A double and a single to start the third inning got Westhampton on the board first, but Wimmer settled in, allowing only one more baserunner over the final four innings. She retired 14 of the last 15 batters she faced.
Emma Wimmer’s teammates congratulate her after a three-run homer. Photo by Alex Petroski
The hurler said she couldn’t remember a better all-around game in her career, and called it “awesome” to come up with the clutch performance in a county final.
“It was a great feeling, I was so happy,” Wimmer said, reflecting on what went through her mind as the homer sailed over the centerfield fence. “It definitely let some of the pressure off. Having more runs helps when I pitch because you get that insurance.”
Mount Sinai will face McArthur in the Long Island championship June 2 at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue at 3:30 p.m.
The Mustangs celebrate their third straight county title. Photo by Alex Petroski
Ward Melville to face Smithtown East in Suffolk championship May 31
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Matt Grillo celebrates a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Zach Hobbes races into Hills East's zone. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo finds the back of the net. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz, second from left, is surrounded by Brandon Aviles Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dominic Pryor maintain possession as he rushes across the field. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz fires a shot at the cage. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dominic Pryor moves across the field. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Michael Giaquinto races to the net after a faceoff win. He won on 18 of 25 attempts, and scored off two of those possession wins. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Andrew Lockhart and Dominic Pryor celebrate a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo passes the ball. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dyaln Pallonetti on the move. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Eddie Munoz celebrates a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Dylan Pallonetti looks to make a pass. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo and Eddie Munoz celebrate a goal. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo passes from behind the cage. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo makes his way around a defender. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Zach Hobbes moves the ball downfield. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo, Eddie Munoz and Zach Hobbes led the way for Ward Melville. Photo by Desirée Keegan
Matt Grillo, on left, and Zach Hobbes, on right, reach out to Eddie Munoz after scoring. Photo by Desirée Keegan
As the crowd and sideline erupted over a stretch of three minutes in the third quarter, it seemed like the Patriots couldn’t miss.
In fact, they didn’t, as the Ward Melville’s boys’ lacrosse team scored six times on six shots during that span, on the way to a 15-6 Class A semifinal win over Half Hollow Hills East May 25.
“We’ve been here before, and we were pumped up,” junior Zach Hobbes said. “We knew we had to come out fired up, because there was a chance we were going to go home.”
An early ouster from the playoffs seemed like a remote possibility coming into the game for two-loss Ward Melville, after Hills East gave the Patriots all they could handle in a triple overtime, 8-7 thriller during the regular season, but the second-half scoring spurt erased that possibility. Hobbes found the back of the net for the first of the six goals, which was his third of the game. Junior Matt Grillo scored twice to complete his hat trick, and junior Michael Giaquinto also scored twice, directly off faceoff wins.
“We played more unselfish,” Grillo said. “Last time we played them, we had a lot of individuals doing their stuff, and this time we looked for the open man, and it worked.”
The Patriots were riding a 6-2 halftime advantage into that 6-0 run. The last goal of the second quarter fired up Grillo and senior Eddie Munoz, inspiring the team to come out even quicker after the break.
Grillo intercepted a Hills East pass attempt by the goalkeeper, and with Kyle Bockelman outside of his posts, Grillo saw the opportunity at an empty-netter with Munoz at his side.
“I saw the rusty pass and I ran over to pick it off,” Grillo said. “Eddie’s always there to put it in, and I knew he was going to finish.”
Giaquinto, who split 10 faceoffs in the first half, won seven of eight in the third, and got lower on the draw to help him win 18 of 25 faceoffs overall in the game.
“I give Michael Giaquinto a lot of credit,” Hobbes said. “Those possessions were key.”
Munoz said his teammates have been hearing all season long how they’re the next resilient bunch to vie for the state championship, and he said he knew the next step toward getting back to where the Patriots were last year wasn’t too far out of reach.
“To be so close to another county championship — we needed to win,” he said. “Our drive is what got us here, and our confidence is through the roof, but you can’t be too cocky. We’re soaking it in, enjoying the moment, but once we get on that bus — get back to the school — we have work to do. It’s all about staying focused.”
Ward Melville will face Smithtown East May 31 at Stony Brook University at 3 p.m. with a chance for redemption. The Bulls halted the Patriots’ playoff push two years ago, with an 11-10 county final victory.
“We feel we have a standard to uphold at Ward Melville,” Hobbes said. “We need to get back to where we were last year, and take that title this time. We’re ready to play.”
Harborfields' Alex Merhige shoots from three-point range. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields' Kyle Stolba moves to the rim through traffic. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai's Harrison Bak leaps up to the rim. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields' Shane Wagner drives the lane while preparing to shoot. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai's John Clark sets up a play. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields' Alex Merhige scores. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai's Dan Deckert moves to the basket. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai's Cole Harkins moves the ball through the paint. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai's Nick Rose battles in the paint while Harborfields' Alex Merhige reaches for the block. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields' Shane Wagner drives the baseline. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields' Tyler Spagnolo shoots from beyond the arc. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
The Tornadoes are already beginning to blow through the bracket.
The eyes of the storm, seniors Alex Merhige and Kyle Stolba, racked up 29 points each as the No. 1-seeded Harborfields boys’ basketball team, which totaled a lucky 13 3-pointers in the win, knocked out No. 8 Mount Sinai, 86-53, in the Class A quarterfinals Feb. 17.
Fresh off a thrilling overtime win the night before, a 70-63 win over No. 9 Comsewogue, the Mustangs’ season comes to an abrupt end.
From opening tipoff, the game was never in question. The Tornadoes flexed their muscles, racking up point after point — draining six 3-pointers in the first quarter alone.
Merhige, who finished the game with 12 rebounds and five blocks, wowed the crowd with his second dunk of the game in the second stanza. Stolba, who had a triple double with 10 assists and 10 rebounds, hit his fourth trey of the game, and the Tornadoes took a 30-point lead into the halftime break, 56-26.
“They’re always good competitors — they work hard even when they got down in the first quarter they never gave up on us,” Stolba said of Mount Sinai. “The coach had to wake us up a little in the second just to keep going, we caught fire and I think we showed why we’re the No. 1 seed.”
Stolba started the scoring for the second half with a pair of field goals, senior Joe Kelly hit a 3-pointer and Merhige drained his fourth trey for a 73-37 advantage heading into the final eight minutes of play.
“We played great — we moved the ball really well, our defense in the first half was unbelievable,” Merhige said. “We only missed like two three’s in the first half, but our next game definitely won’t be so easy.”
Harborfields head coach John Tampori pulled his starters and the bench took the team to the finish line.
Senior David Maitre answered the call with a field goal and a shot from beyond the arc to help put the win in the record book.
Mount Sinai head coach Ryan McNeely said he was proud to see his boys make it as far as they did.
“Some people counted us out when we were 3-6 in the league, but then we won five out of six before this game,” he said. “We knew they were an excellent team and they shot the ball much better than we saw watching tape, but I’m very proud of our guys in how we finished the season.”
Senior Harrison Bak led Mount Sinai with 13 points, and classmate Nick Rose followed close behind with 11.
Senior Shane Wagner made a pair of field goals and three triples to place him second in scoring behind Stolba and Merhige with 13 points.
Harborfields head coach John Tampori said he liked what he saw from his team, and hopes that the boys can keep up the good work.
“Mount Sinai is well coached and they’re a scrappy team that put forth a great effort,” he said. “We’re not that much better than they are, it’s just that tonight was our night. They had a tough overtime win last night and to come here the next day and played us hard and that’s a credit to them.”
Harborfields will play No. 5 Wyandanch at home Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Wagner said if his team plays like it did against Mount Sinai, they’ll be ready.
“They came out hot, but we came out hotter,” Wagner said of Mount Sinai. “We were hitting shots. I don’t think we missed a shot in the first quarter, maybe a 3-pointer. For the next round, we are definitely mentally ready, and we’re physically ready.”
After outscoring Section I's Lakeland-Panas 16-6, Patriots will take on Section V's Victor
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With Ward Melville's victory over Lakeland-Panas, the Patriots advance to the New York State championship round. Photo by Bill Landon
Eddie Munoz looks for the cutter. Photo by Bill Landon
Dylan Pallonetti drives to the crease during Ward Melville's semifinal win over Lakeland-Panas. Photo by Bill Landon
Connor Grippe turns up field. Photo by Bill Landon
Chirs Grillo fires at the cage for the score in Ward Melville's semifinal win over Lakeland-Panas. Photo by Bill Landon
Owen McAvoy makes his way to the cage. Photo by Bill Landon
Dominic Pryor moves through traffic as he carries the ball into Lakeland-Panas' zone. Photo by Bill Landon
Michael Giaquinto reaches for the loose ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Owen McAvoy gets checked while trying to create an open lane during Ward Melville's semifinal win over Lakeland-Panas. Photo by Bill Landon
The Ward Melville boys' lacrosse team piled up in celebration of it's New York State semifinal win over Lakeland-Panas to advance to the championship round. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Looking at the Ward Melville boys’ lacrosse team now, you would never guess that it struggled early in the season.
On Wednesday at Hofstra University, the Patriots scored 16 goals against Section I challenger Lakeland-Panas in the New York State Class A semifinals, to earn them a spot in the championship round Saturday.
“We had our ups and downs this season, which started very quickly,” junior midfielder Dominic Pryor said following the win. “We knew we weren’t doing what we needed to do to play up to our potential, so we had a meeting and we said we have to start playing Ward Melville lacrosse. And that’s what we did tonight.”
Once again, it was junior attack Eddie Munoz who stole the show, scoring five goals in the 16-6 victory. But he too said things started off a little shaky for the Patriots.
“At the beginning of the year, we had trouble finishing,” he said. “That first game against Smithtown West we took 31 shots and scored just one goal, so there’s no excuse for that.”
This time, the team had no problem lighting up the scoreboard.
The Rebels may have hit the the board first, four minutes into the contest, but the Patriots countered with four unanswered goals with less than four minutes left in the opening quarter to take the 4-1 advantage. Pryor, who led the team with six points off a hat trick and three assists, scored twice during that run, while senior attack Chris Grillo found the net off an assist from senior midfielder Owen McAvoy, and senior defender Sean Thornton stretched the net off a feed from Pryor.
“At the beginning of the season you always have the mindset that you’re going to [make it to] states, but early on we weren’t playing at the level,” Grillo said. “As the season progressed we played better and that hope of making it to states became more of a reality.”
Lakeland-Panas countered with two quick goals in the closing minute to cut the deficit to trail by one, and sophomore midfielder Zach Hobbes opened the scoring in the second quarter with a solo shot before a penalty put the Patriots down a player. Lakeland-Panas cashed in on the man advantage to trail 5-4, but Munoz’s stick spoke next when he split the pipes to take a two-goal lead.
“Eddie Munoz comes out and snipes one left, and he’s worked hard at it, and he’s elevated his game,” Negus said.
From there, the Patriots never looked back.
“Our offense works — especially when you’re dodging, you’re banging around the outside because it gets everyone energized and we spread the scoring around,” Munoz said. “Earlier in the season it was tough to find the back of the net, but this game was the best we’ve played all year.”
A loose ball caused a scrum in front of the Rebels’ goalkeeper, and freshman attack Dylan Pallonetti swatted in the ball for a three-goal lead.
Ward Melville outscored Lakeland-Panas 4-1 in the third quarter. Grillo notched two goals during that spurt for the hat trick, and Pryor added his second before assisting on junior attack Andrew Lockhart’s shot.
Munoz drilled home his hat trick goal early in the final quarter to help the Patriots break out to a 12-5 lead.
“It’s un believable what they’re capable of,” Ward Melville head coach Jay Negus said. “We’re trying new things and it’s working.”
Lakeland-Panas managed one more goal in the game, but the Patriots dominated the final period of play.
Pryor finished with his third goal of the game when he did a spin move just outside the crease and drilled his shot past the keeper, and junior Dylan Krieg scored his first goal of the season with the final goal of the game.
“At the beginning we were forcing some shots and I had to keep telling them ‘it’s not the first thing, it’s the best thing’ and that takes experience and maturity. I’m starting to see that,” Negus said. “They’re buying into the game plan and early in the season we didn’t know our team’s identity. But I’ve seen some flashes of brilliance throughout the playoffs.”
Ward Melville will face Section V’s Victor High School on June 11 at Middletown High School at 4 p.m.
