Just check these scores, folks.
Lindenhurst 8, Ward Melville 5.
Comeswogue 11, Manhasset 10, OT.
John Jay 13, Rye 7.
Yorktown 11, Somers 6.
What a day. Where do we start?
For video highlights of the Somers-Yorktown game, click here.
First, Long Island. As if Ward Melville and Manhasset both going down is not enough, get this. West Islip, the No. 1 team in our LaxLessons.com Top 25 regional rankings, trailed 4-0 before rallying to beat William Floyd 12-8.
There’s lots to digest. So let’s get right to it.
First, Long Island. It seems apparent already that parity will be the word of the day, especially when you couple today’s surprising scores with Cold Spring Harbor’s one-goal loss to Summit, N.J., on Monday.
In Westchester, the question of the day is this:
What have we learned about the Section 1 Class B race in light of the day’s developments?
After all, a John Jay team many consider to be a rebuilding one beat Rye by just one goal less than Yorktown did and scored four more goals than the ‘Huskers did against the Garnets. Considering Rye’s defensive prowess, scoring 13 goals against them is no small feat. I don’t know the last Section 1 team that has, in fact. It’s been a while.
Throughout the preseason and into the opening weeks of the season, I have ranked John Jay second to Yorktown in the Westchester region. Many have questioned that selection. I’ve stated my reasons and I stand by them.
The main thing I’ve stated is that John Jay may not have an offensive player the caliber of Joe Marasco or Kevin Interlicchio, but the Indians do have many good players. Depth is a trademark for them. So too is inexperience. The Indians, after all, have 13 sophomores on their roster. One of them, Forrest Walter, enjoyed a breakout game with five goals.
His emergence may be emblematic of a team that has already appeared to grown and matured in a short time.
Against Rye, the Indians fell behind 2-0 in the opening 13 seconds as Cole McCormack won both faceoffs cleanly and fed Rob Santagelo for two quick goals.
But rather than getting rattled, John Jay calmly reeled off five straight goals, with Walker and seniors Will Stewart and Drew Beck highlighting the run.
Despite our ranking John Jay ahead of Somers at this point, many view the Tuskers as the favorite to win the Class B title.
Tonight, Somers did nothing to disprove those theories.
After all, back-to-back goals by Joe Marasco and Erik Pfiffner pulled the Tuskers to within a goal 7-6 over the top team in the Westchester region tonight. Though Somers wound up losing 11-6, the outcome wound up being closer than many thought.
So, who is the team to beat in Class B? Is it John Jay? Or is it Somers? Or could another team such as Horace Greeley sneak into the picture? Let’s hear your thoughts.
For its part, Yorktown had to be pleased with the way it closed the game outscoring Somers 4-0 over the final 17:03.
“We knew we just needed to come out and get possession of the ball,” senior midfielder John Ranagan said. “That and our defense was the key.”
Especially since the ‘Huskers were unable to play their preferred offensive style.
“We couldn’t get a lot of transition goals which is our game,” junior attackman Kevin Interlicchio said. “But we adjused. I think this game can be a big steppingstone for us.”
It was another one individually for Interlicchio. After netting eight goals in Yorktown’s previous game a 14-10 win over St. Anthony’s he scored seven against Somers. He now has 26 goals in four games.
Yorktown, meanwhile, did a good job holding the Syracuse-bound Marasco under wraps. Though he scored three goals, they prevented him from being more active in the game by assigning the team’s best defender, Towson-bound John Fennessy, to play him aggressively up top.
“I knew that if he got around me, there would be two quick slides, so I could take some chances,” Fennessy said. “I know from playing with him at Empires some of the things he likes to do, like quick roll, and I tried to take that away from him.”
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Posted In: Long Island lacrosse
I think Somers might be slightly ahead of JJ right now, but after seeing JJ play Rye today I can see the future of that team and it is bright, also I think Rye may have played their best game of the season when they played YTown I hope not, the off is weak and the D is ok, also the Goalie did not play well and was replaced after the first half, the back up played well. Also I did get to see three quaters of the Brewster, HG game, not bad HG looks well coached and the O never stops moving, D looks ok F/O did nice job heading in the right direction…
KI is on pace to score 91 goals on the regular season..
100+ including the playoffs.
John F –
After the game, the subject came up whether or not Kevin is aware he may be in line to break several school scoring records. He certainly is, but he said that’s something he would think about after his career. Here are a school few records he has a shot at:
Career points: 393 Tom Nelson (Class of ’83)
Career goals: 178 Carcaterra (Class of ’93)
Points in a season: 162 Tim Nelson (Class of ’81)
Goals in a season: 94 Rob Betchley (Class of ’83)
Joe (not to jinx it or anything) but would Yorktown High School have some sort of ceremony if indeed Interlicchio were to break any record? Breaking any kind of record for lax at Yorktown is certainly unheard of these days…
It certainly started out as ryes day with two very quick goals!!
But congrats to Jay for recovering from this and playing a really solid game. Was impressed with patient offense and play of their sophs, Stewart, etc. Their long poles also made for hard work by Rye on O. There are some really good players developing out of that crop.
Now that Ive complimented Jay which they truly deserve, Ill say that AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE SEASON I sincerely dont believe Jay is a 7 goal better ” then Rye. Right now I feel Ryes defense can play much better then letting in 13 goals!! Jay played well but Rye DEFINITELY made it TOO easy for them to score some of their goals(not sliding, letting cutters thru, not enough physicality, ete, etc). 13 goals was a shock which I dont think anyone expected!! A Jay win, a Rye win, with a few goals of separation yes, but nor this result.
Great lesson for Rye and all teams’s D to emulate is Fennesey’s confidence in comment that he “could take chances” because he KNEW their were 2 kids behind him that would slide behind him if Jo got by.
Rye needs to step it up. The kids are busting their butt but the proof of just really how good they are is out on the field. Right now I still see good upside potential for improvement.
Another tough opponent for Rye today in Iona Prepwell see.
Town’s performance speaks for itself and has been talked about alot.
But I was very impressed with Somers’ effort. I expected (and think most others) a far larger win margin by Town. Penalties really hurt them Somers (not discussing warranted or not) and took some “mo” away from them. it’s part of the game.
Where has Deana (SP?) been for 2 yrs!! Really impressed with a combination of obvious athletic ability PLUS good lacrosse skills (incredible energy, aggressiveness, passing, catching skills, ground balls) .Petre, Phiffner, Schurr and others played very well.
Performance last night makes me definitely pick Somers # 2 in power rankings and at top of Section B. Aside from Joe, think their team skills + physicality of their personnel give them a definite boost above Jay who has terrific sophs who made need another year to continue developing skill wise and physically.
I have not heard anyone mention the fact that JJ pulled their starters (including the Goalie) just after the 4th period started. If they had not done that, perhaps JJ would have scored “better than 7 goals”? This is a young Jay team that has improved dramatically in the last several weeks, they will be much stronger by playoff time, and there are some tough battles ahead.
LacrosseInsider,
So they pulled their goalie! Goal tending was not the issue anyway yesterday. Also was at the game and dont think JJ played without their starters for most of the 4th.
Doesn’t matter anyway. If Jay had won by 9 goals I’d be saying a 9 goal winning margin was a one time fluke and the teams are more evenly matched then that margin shows. Rye held Town to 9 goals with a 7 goal margin of loss. This also makes me feel that 13 goals and a 7 goal margin win by Jay was a one time lop-sided loss. Plus Rye’s 13-8 win over Iona Prep today.
I do absolutely agree with your last sentence that Jay is improving game by game and will be in strong contention for Class B honors.
Rye is improving as well.
JJ could of scored 15 or 16 but the Sav’s emptied the bench as usual.