Photo by Ray Nelson/MaxPreps.com
Farmingdale, fresh off an overtime upset victory over two-time defending state champ West Islip in the Long Island Class A championship game, started the season 0-2. Now, the Dalers are a win away from their third-ever state title-game appearance. (The Dalers, who have never won a state crown, most recently appeared in the title game in 2003, when they fell 11-10 to West Genesee .)
We’re now just a day away from state semifinal action in both New York and Connecticut — not to mention the Tournament of Champions semis in New Jersey.
Are you getting ready for what promises to be a wild Wednesday?
Don’t forget to continue to not only post your thoughts on the matchups here but to weigh in now in our rotating poll questions on some of tomorrow”s more eagerly awaited matchups.
To vote, go to the right panel of this page. Then, just scroll past the “New Comments” and “Popular” tabs and click on “Poll,” and then cast your vote from the choices available, or write in your choice if it’s not listed.
Before we run down tomorrow’s slate, we have a quick programming note.
Tonight on MSG Varsity’s “High School SportsDesk,” we’ll be previewing and analyzing tomorrow’s semifinals. So be sure to catch the show at 6 p.m. on Channel 14 (Optimum). It reairs at 9 p.m.
We’ll also have our weekly “Under the Radar” segment, which we launched the opening week of the season.
As one who has always been on the look out for hidden gems, it’s been fun to present this feature each week. And, as a proponent of underdogs everywhere, it’s great to see the concept is catching on with others now getting in on the act by recognizing those whose names aren’t always in the headlines or at the top of the recruiting rankings.
Also, you can catch the Shenendehowa-Farmingdale and GC-Yorktown games live on msgvarsity.com and watch a replay of GC-Yorktown on iO Channel 14 on Friday night at 7 as well.
Also, gang, the sites are now set for tomorrow’s Connecticut semifinals. Check the rundown below.
Now, to tomorrow:
WEDNESDAY STATE SEMIFINALS
NEW YORK
Downstate
at White Plains High School
Class A: Farmingdale (Section 8 ) vs. Shenendehowa (Section 2), 3:30 p.m.
Class B: Garden City (Section 8 ) vs. Yorktown (Section 1), 5:30 p.m.
Class C: Bayport-Blue Point (Section 11) vs. Bronxville (Section 1), 8 p.m.
Upstate
at St. John Fisher College, Rochester
Class A: Ithaca (Section 3) vs. Pittsford (Section 5), 3:30 p.m.
Class B: Jamesville-DeWitt (Section 3) vs. Irondequoit (Section 5), 5:30 p.m.
Class C: Cazenovia (Section 3) vs. Silver Creek (Section 6), 8 p.m.
CONNECTICUT
Class L
at Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk
No. 6 Ridgefield at No. 2 Staples, 4:30 p.m.
No. 8 Simsbury at No. 4 Fairfield Prep, 6:30 p.m.
Class M
No. 5 Wilton at No. 1 Darien at Fairfield Ludlowe, 4:30 p.m.
No. 7 New Canaan at No. 3 New Fairfield at Fairfield Warde, 4:30 p.m.
Class S
at West Haven
No. 3 Joel Barlow at No. 2 Stonington, 5 p.m.
No. 12 St. Joseph at No. 1 Somers, 7 p.m.
NEW JERSEY
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS SEMIFINALS
At Kean University, Union
No. 3 Bridgewater-Raritan (Group 4 champ) vs. No. 2 Immaculata (Non-Public B champ), 5 p.m.
No. 4 Delbarton (Non-Public A champ) vs. No. 1 Summit (Group 2 champ), 7 p.m.
As noted, it will be Garden City vs. Yorktown in the Class B downstate semifinal on Wednesday.
Those premier programs will be renewing a tradition-rich rivalry. To check out the postseason history between the Trojans and Huskers, click here.
LOOKING AHEAD TO SATURDAY’S FINALS
NEW YORK
at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, Syracuse
Class A: Farmingdale/Shenendehowa winner vs. Ithaca/Pittsford winner, 11 a.m.
Class B: Garden City/Yorktown winner vs. Jamesville-DeWitt/Irondequoit winner, 1:30 p.m.
Class C: Bayport-Blue Point/Bronxville winner vs. Cazenovia/Silver Creek winner, 4 p.m.
CONNECTICUT
at Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk
Times TBD
Class L: Simsbury/Fairfield Prep winner vs. Staples/Ridgefield winner
Class M: Darien/Wilton winner vs. New Canaan/New Fairfield winner
Class S: Somers/St. Joseph winner vs. Stonington/Joel Barlow winner
NEW JERSEY TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
At Rutgers University
Bridgewater-Raritan/Immaculata winner vs. Delbarton/Summit winner, 3 p.m.
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Posted In: Fairfield lacrosse, fciac, Gameday, SCC lacrosse, Section 1, Section 11, Section 8, Section 9, SWC lacrosse
Dale 10, Shen 6
GC 8, Town 5
BBP 11, Ville 7
L
FP 12, Simsbury 4
Ridgefield 8, Staples 6
M
Darien 11, Wilton 7 (if Case plays) … Darien 7, Wilton 6 OT (if Case doesn’t play)
NC 9, NF 6
S
St. Joe 8, Somers 6
Barlow 11, Stonington 8
I’m going with …
Farmingdale 10, Shen 5
Garden City 9, Yorktown 6
BBP 9, Bronxville 5
I think Yorktown wins if:
1. I’m stating the obvious here but Schuldt or whomever MUST win at least 75 percent of the faceoffs.
2. Yorktown must push its offense every chance it gets. In the 6 v 6 the Huskers will likely fall victim to the type of stifling GC defense most everyone else has struggled to do anything against this season. Transition is the name of the game on Wednesday.
3. Ground balls — gotta own ’em, especially if Yorktown gets and has plans to maintain any lead.
4. Yorktown hasn’t produced a fantastic goaltender since the last time they won states in 2003. Not a slight against anyone they’ve had since, but Vedder was the difference that year and no one has come close to approaching him since. Sialiano has to play the game of his life. Not that he’ll be facing a ton of shots, but he has to make the routine saves and steal a few here and there.
Yorktown is the underdog and rightfully so, but they’ll be in this game. They are playing their best lax right now. It may not be enough to topple a GC team seemingly on a mission, but I suspect they’ll have a fine accounting of themselves.
We have some unfortunate news to pass along. Darien’s Case Matheis told me this morning an MRI revealed he has a torn miniscus that requires surgery.
He’s out for tomorrow’s state semi against Wilton and, should Darien win, Saturday’s state final. If the Blue Wave are to make it “7 in ’11,” it will have to be minus No. 4.
Best wishes to Case for a speedy and complete recovery.
We’ll have more on MSG Varsity’s “High School SportsDesk” at 6 p.m.
That blows. Meniscus, hopefully they can sew it back as opposed to removing it bc bone on bone isn’t a fun way to play.
Probably doesn’t make the ultimate difference for States this year as they’ll adjust and rise to the occasion.
Wow. That’s terrible news.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Seems like this season particularly plagued with injuries!
Scores?
This is very unfortunate. I am sure Wilton would rather play Darien at full strength.
Hang in there Case. Not only are you very exciting to watch and a credit to the Darien program, you have represented the state of Connecticut very well on a national level.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. We all want a healthy #4 next year…even if you are nightmare for my team!
Amen to that – regardless of the team you root for, nobody wants to see young talent injured playing what they love….
Ask anyone who knows Case and they wil tell you he is a great player, but they will also tell you he is a GREAT kid. Hate to see him go down, but knowing how hard he works at the sport he loves, he will be back stronger than ever. Look forward to that and wishes for a speedy recovery. Congrats on all your accomplishments and thanks for always representing the Blue Wave
Joe Lombardi
The word is they may move 3:30 game to Somers at 7pm
because of Heat Index?
thx for keeping us up on this as it develops–why not just do 6, 8 and 10–last game late but at least all games in one place for all to see.
as of now the games have been moved back an hour and are still at White Plains so its:
A-4:30 PM, B-6:30 PM and C-9:00 PM