John Bolton and Darien visit Ridgefield.
(Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com)
It’s here.
The moment FCIAC fans and fans from throughout the region have all been waiting for.
Darien vs. Ridgefield.
Darien has won four straight state titles. Ridgefield is the No. 1-ranked team in the state.
Action gets under way at 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Hollow Stadium. Arrive early. A large very large crowd is expected.
In Long Island, Kings Park visits Comsewogue at 7 p.m., and Huntington plays at Glenn at 4 p.m.
White Plains, coming off stunning wins over Putnam Valley and Mahopac (perhaps the biggest story of the season in Section 1 lax), visits Clarkstown South and star goaltender Luke Haggerty, who is coming off a jaw-dropping 33-save performance against John Jay. Game time is 4:30 p.m.
Also of note, Class B contenders Brewster and Hen Hud square off at 7 p.m. at Hen Hud.
Predictions:
Ridgefield 9, Darien 7
Comsewogue 8, Kings Park 6
Glenn 10, Huntington 6
White Plains 9, Clarkstown South 5
Brewster 6, Hen Hud 5
Section 1, Long Island, NYC & Connecticut scores:
Ridgefield 8, Darien 7
Somers 17, Byram Hills 6
Mahopac 15, Putnam Valley 10
Glenn 7, Huntington 5
Mount Sinai 9, Hauppauge 8
Hackley 16, Xaverian 5
Sleepy Hollow 6, Hastings 5
Brewster 10, Hen Hud 6
Bronxville 7, Fox Lane 6
St. Anthony’s 13, Holy Trinity 5
Shoreham-Wading River 17, Bellport 5
Chaminade 10, Kellenberg 2
Garden City 10, New Hyde Park 3
Rocky Point 10, Babylon 7
Comsewogue 10, Kings Park 2
Pelham 12, Clarkstown North 5
White Plains 9, Clarkstown South 5
Fordham Prep 13, Riverdale Country Day 3
Iona Prep 18, Long Island Lutheran 1
You can also reach Joe Lombardi at joe@laxlessons.com.
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Two days, two showdowns: Let’s hear your picks
Posted In: Today's Top 5
Way, way too much hype for tonight’s game. Darien is missing their best attack, a top middie and a top pole. If Ridgefield were missing the same would anyone be debating the outcome? Don’t think so…not much to speculate about here I think.
Joe,
Can you give us your thoughts on the Pac vs PV game. I know both teams are coming off two losses.
Can’t wait for the whining and excuses from Tiger Hollow tomorrow. Enjoy the game!
Beat pac and PV… WP-18 south-3
Upset Special of the day!!!!!!
Byram Hills-10
Somers-9
Greenwich New Canaan?
Fritz is no longer the coach at Byram?
Lefty Crank –
PV vs. ‘Pac. Yeah, I really don’t know what to make of this one. Both squads have suffered back-to-back losses and both lost to White Plains. I was honestly surprised at the margin of victories for both John Jay (vs. Mahopac) and Greeley (vs. Put Valley). This one is a coin flip. I’ll say Put Valley 9-7.
Bobcat Nation –
You may be on the mark. After Byram’s strong showing against Rye a team that beat Somers this is a game I am definitely flagging as well as a possible upset.
Cards Lax –
James Baranishyn, an assistant at Byram last season, is now the head coach of the Bobcats.
Yeah, I know this blog is Section I-centric, but Brewster/Hen Hud or WP/CS (or Huntington/Glenn, for that matter) don’t have 1/10 the oomph of NC-Greenwich. Should be a good game – essentially a battle for fourth place in the FCIAC.
While I’m inclined to say something snarky like “NC 1, Greenwich 0 (5OT),” I’d say it’ll be more along the lines of 5-4 or 6-4. Two of the most anemic offenses – and best defenses – in Fairfield County.
It will definitely be a low-scoring one, John. I’d be surprised if Greenwich didn’t pull it out though.
As for the blog, we talk most about whatever’s newsworthy and what people comment on I guess. But if you look at the story archive on the right side of thispage, you will see the content under the headers Section 1 lacrosse, Long Island lacrosse and Fairfield lacrosse, the number of stories for each is pretty even.
Hey gang –
The new Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse national rankings are out. You can check them out now on the InsideLacrosse.com homepage along with some links to our recent videos:
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/
West Islip remains the top-ranked team from the LaxLessons.com regional rankings nationally. The Lions are No. 5 after being No. 6 last week.
Yorktown has moved up one spot to No. 8.
Know Lafayette is very good but no way they should be ranked ahead of Town, WI, WG, and Sett!!! They dont play nearly the same tough schedule as these teams (except for their 1 loss to LaSalle).
Also my usual pet peeve that St Andrews (Fla) and the Texas team dont belong in the top 25 unless someone can prove that the teams they play are top draw with at least a few elite teams included!!!!!
Have a friend in San Fran who played for St. Pauls and recruited into Penn who has watched St. Ignatious play who said the competition out there is weak compared to back in the elite areas of Balt/NY. St Igna has been ranked in the top 25 a number of times as well.
Joe,
I agree with your prediction on the Pac Pv game. I cant figure Pac out, they play a tough gritty game against Greely, than lay an egg against both JJ and WP
If they play that way today it could get ugly. If they play the way they are capable it should be a good one.
I also like Darien in a close one 10-9 in OT
Even if Darien had no injuries, I think Ridgefield would still win this game. If Ridge had Mirra and their faceoff guy, forget it.
Ridgefield wins tonight 12-7.
Other picks:
White Plains 7, Clarkstown South 3
Comsewogue 10, Kings Park 5
Glenn 12, Huntington 5
Hen Hud 7, Brewster 6
slacrose
Lafayette is undefeated – they don’t play LaSalle.
LaxPower has them ranked 8th nationally
…and there is probably not another school in the country that boasts a better top 3 players.
Senior John Greeley was IL’s number 1 ranked junior last year, was an early commit to Hopkins, and is an UA AA this year
Junior Miles Thompson earned a bronze medal in last summer’s U19 World Lacrosse Championships.
So did his brother Lyle – a soph.
Good points Old Coach. Greeley and Nicky Galasso are the consensus top players in the country.
Syracuse you have really consumed far too much of that Ridgefield Kool Aid. Today the hype ends. Defense and discipline win big games. Darien will win a close one. Ridgefield fans can start thinking of their excuses now.
Nutmegger,
I wouldn’t be too tough on Syracuse, he sure knows what’s going on and it worries me that he’s set on Ridgefield by that margin tonight. If I understood how Ridgefield is ever going to get and keep possession of the ball to run their offense, I’d be even more concerned.
Unfortunately, it won’t matter what the outcome is tonight, the Tiger hype is as persistent as the swine flu. Those guys have been swimming in the Kool-Aid since the season started, even losing last week doesn’t keep people from insisting they have the best team in the Northeast, able to trash West Islip, and other forms of grandiose delusions. Ridgefield has some outstanding players and may well win tonight and the FCIACs. But if they don’t, it’ll be a waste of time to get them to admit their shortcomings.
No hype for Ridgefield. Just think that Darien is missing too many players to have a good outing tonight. As I said earlier Ridgefield is missing a pole from the weaker and less important part of their team/game. Darien is now missing a pole that they needed to cover the multiple offensive threats as well as two top offensive players. If this situation were reversed what do you think everyone wiould be predicting a Darien win by? My guess is a big margin. But hey, that’s why they play the game, right?
Lafayette vs. Manhasset in the Class C finals is going to be a classic. I think Manhasset has a more balanced squad and Lafayette wont know what hit them after dealing with that weak schedule all year. Greeley was MIA at the Empire games
8-3 Pac lead Put Valley about 5 left in the 2nd Q
Valley makes a run… Pac leads 9-6 halftime
re:lax,
That’s exactly right, and in about an hour they’ll finally get to play this game.
Please remember that it’s not about who is missing, it’s about who shows up.
Hey folks –
Be sure to check back in starting in about an hour for live updates on the Darien-Ridgefield game.
Also be sure to post any info/scores on games you were at today.
Hey gang –
Just arrived here at Ridgefield. A steady rain has just started to fall. We’re about 15 minutes away from the Tigers’ much-awaited showdown vs. Darien. Check back for updates on this FCIAC mega matchup.
Any more Pac-PV updates though?
Sorry LAX,
Final
Pac-14
PV-10
Mahopac offense came to life early going up 7-1. PV rallied back a bit but never got within 3 goals. Pac got Chase Thompson back which really made a difference on faceoffs and on offense. Game was live on Lohud and the video is still up
It’s tied 1-1 with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
Brendan Walsh snaps a 1-1 tie for Ridgefield late in the first quarter. Ridgefield now leads 3-1 after the first.quarter.
Old Coach,
OK with what you said and they will be very tough but unless I’m mistaken about their schedule (sorry about LaSalle), it is much lighter then the other teams I’ve mentioned–IF this is true then I think its gair and logicaI that they not be ranked ahead of elite teams with much tougher scheds–being undefeated is not too relevant if the sched is not that strong.
Again I acknowledge Laf is an excellent team with some great players but rankings MUST take into consideration strength of sched.
Great prediction joe. Wp-9 south-5
Went over the bridge to see this WP that has beaten pac and PV. They are a well coach team who get many many ground balls. They are a very diciplined team and moved the ball well.
Souths d is just terrible. I sorta feel bad for there goalie who takes on way too many shots. Offence has trouble getting the ball around and making simple passes.
Darien is running a. very deliberate ball-control offense. Ridgefield leads 3-2 late in the second quarter.
Freshman Case Mathies scores for Darien with two minutes left in the second quarter. It’s tied 3-3.
John Bolton scores off a feed from Tyler Foley after a Darien timeout with 16 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Blue Wave their first lead. Darien leads 4-3 at halftime.
Guys,
I just added a million scores to the body of this thread.
Bolton and Brickman score back to back. Darien leads 6-4 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Walsh scores off a Matt White feed. Darien leads 6-5 after three.
Bolton’s third goal give Darien a 7-5 lead with 5:43 remaining in regulation. Timeout Ridgefiekd.
upset special of the day… oh wait nevermind somers kills byram hills 17-6!!
Ridgefield ties it at 7-7 on Walsh’s fourth goal with 1:33 left in regulation.
Somers 17
Byram Hills 6
Somers dominated the whole game.
Dariens wins ensuing faceoff Shot hits the post. Ridgefield has the ball with 58 seconds left in regulation.
Matt White scores on a brilliant one on one move with 47 seconds left and Ridgefield holds on to win 8-7.
Wow. And just think: they could meet two more times.
Wow, sounds like a great game! Congratulations to Ridgefield.
Actually, the only chance left to meet is in the FCIAC playoffs. Ridgefield is in the L class for States and Darien is in M. Chance for revenge in county playoffs for Darien.
Sounds like the game had everything people expected. Congrats to Ridgefield, seems like they handled the pressure very well.
Pac came out and played a better game today,Pac led 8-1 2nd Qtr until PV came back 9-6 at the half. Pac wins it 15-10 both teams played well.
johnny mcguigan had 25 saves for pac
Pac came out to play today. Good job boys. Perrelle was the difference. 5 goals even while being shut off. Also Johnnie McGuigan is the most under rated player in the section. The kid had some amazing saves today 1v1 and was the reason PV did not score in the 4th quarter.
Hey gang –
Just a quick programming note. I’ll be back with thoughts on Ridgefield’s come-from-behind 8-7 win over Darien shortly. We’ll also have video highlights of the big goals down the stretch as well as post-game interviews with the star of the game, Matt White, who scored the winning goal with time winding down, as well as Ridgefield coach Roy Colsey.
We’ll also be bringing you a video interview with John Jay sophomore standout Forrest Walter as we prepare for tomorrow’s John Jay-Yorktown game.
McGuigan made the difference. It was 11-10 pac and he made 4 point blank saves late in the fourth when PV could have taken the lead. Hard fight both teams.
Hey – PacMan is back!
Fantastic ridgefield game, nice win for pac too. Is that 3 straight losses for PV? They’ll need to step it up for playoffs.
Can’t wait for the game tomorrow.
Syracuse,
How can Ridgefield and Darien meet two more times? Ridgefield will choke in FCIAC and win states…
Looks from the box score that Somers ran it up on poor Byram Hills. They were up 13-5 after three then outscored Byram 4-0 in the fourth and I don’t see any reserves getting goals for Somers. Their best players – Marasco, Pffifner and Petre combined for 12 of ther 16 goals. Could it be they wanted to show up Byram because of the talk of an upset today. Way to show class Somers. Very disappointing lack of sportsmanship.
Forgot they are in different state classifications
Observer,
Not sure what box scores you are getting your goal totals from, but it was Marasco 5-0, Petre 1-2 Pfifner 0-0, that makes 6 goals not 12. Donahue had 3-1, Rob Lombardo had 4-0, Tullgren 2-0, Sullivan 1-0, Haas 1-0.
Cuse – are you going to make it to the Town/Jay game this year??????
Wow. Great picks today, Joe. Just reread your predictions and compared them to the final scores …
Predictions:
Ridgefield 9, Darien 7
Comsewogue 8, Kings Park 6
Glenn 10, Huntington 6
White Plains 9, Clarkstown South 5
Brewster 6, Hen Hud 5
Final scores:
Ridgefield 8, Darien 7
Glenn 7, Huntington 5
Comsewogue 10, Kings Park 2
White Plains 9, Clarkstown South 5
Brewster 10, Hen Hud 6
Rye whips up on Scarsdale. Any Rye-HG thoughts? Game is last regular season home game for Rye, should be a good match up
I was at Brewster-Hen Hud game. Brewster completely dominated, up 10-1 with like 7 minutes or so before Hen Hud ran off last five goals of the game.
Part of that granted, Brewster may have had let a little down with such a big lead but I also think that’s the way Hen Hud is capbable of playing when its on its game. If it can just bottle the last seven minutes or so and play that way right from the start in the sectionals, it could win a possible rematch.
Hen Hud coach Craig Solomon told me that he wasn’t sure but Hen Hud and Brewster could possibly play in the 4-5 game so that would be an interesting rematch if it comes to pass.
LacrosseInsider:
Unfortunately my “real job” is a killer and takes me away from attending a lot of games. I’ve been fortunate to get to a lot of games on weekends, but a Friday night in May is never good for me. It stinks, but I have little choice.
I’ve been pushing Joe to get Springsteen to play on his sprawling expanse of property inside his Connecticut compound so we can all meet and have a grand ‘ole time, but so far he’s been holding out on me.
I think The CROP should get involved, especially now that he’s completely devoted to the Laxlessons cause.
I’ll be handling updates for Joe and Jordan from my NYC headquarters on Friday night.
Good luck to both teams.
‘CUSE