|
LACROSSE
Playoff-Bound Tigers Poised To Pounce
Lax squad finishes 12-2,
high enough to secure home field advantage for first round
By Danny Schrafel/ dschrafel@longislandernews.com
Eliminated from the playoffs in 2012,
the Tigers struck back with vengeance this season, securing second place
in Division I and the No. 3 seed in the their playoff bracket.
The Northport boys lacrosse team (12-2) achieved their goal of locking
up home field advantage for their first game in the Suffolk County class
A postseason schedule. Theyre expected to play their first playoff
game at 4 p.m. on May 21.
The Tigers clinched home turf by winning the final two games in the regular
season, most recently defeating No. 7 Sachem North (8-6) last Friday.
Northport Tigers doubled up on the Flaming Arrows, winning 18-9 at Sachem.
The Tigers scored seven points in the first quarter, followed by six in
the second. Head Coach Gorge Searing said his team averaged 12 points
per game this season; they exceed that average before halftime against
Sachem North.
Northports offensive push in the second half of the game was less
aggressive, adding five more points total, but the defense limited the
Flaming Arrows to just four more goals by the time the buzzer sounded.
Senior co-captain and attackman Sean Gilroy led the offense with 6 goals
and added 2 assists, and junior attackman Brian Cannon scored four goals
with 5 assists.
Sophomore attackman Rocco Sutherland scored 2 goals with 3 assists; senior
co-captain and midfielder John Trainor added 2 goals and 2 assists; senior
midfielder Nick DeCiglia scored 2 goals and an assist; senior co-captain
and midfielder John Glancy and junior attackman Ken Gallagher both scored
a point on Friday.
Given the teams level of motivation, Searing said the win didnt
come as a total surprise.
I think we just played very well. Our kids knew we had the opportunity
to secure the lead in the first round, he said. We moved the
ball real well, thats one thing weve been doing well all year,
and I hope that happens in the post-season, [maintaining] our transition
game and the ability to be very unselfish.
Three days earlier, the Tigers snarled at Middle Country, defeating the
Brookhaven team 16-6. Northport scored two unanswered goals in the first
period, and added 6 more goals in the second. Northport continued to push
into the third with 5 more goals, and Middle Country couldnt catch
up.
Trainor added 5 goals; and both Cannon and Gilroy contributed 3 goals
and 3 assists for Northport. Sutherland scored 3 goals with 2 assists;
junior attackman Brian Gilroy, junior attackman James Cicio, and sophomore
midfielder Michael Trainor each scored one goal, and junior goalie Dan
Golden had 6 saves to lead Northport at their last home game of the regular
season.
Searing credited sophomore midfielder Austin Henningsen with maintaining
control of the ball and stepping up in the midfield position.
We did very well in face off, which weve been doing great
with all year anyway. Austin controls a lot of the possessions even if
the other team scores, he said. Our regular guys did a nice
job controlling the situation, extending the lead and getting us to be
in a comfortable position.
Up until their May 21 playoff game, the Tigers will continue to hold practices
and scrimmage with a similarly-ranked team, class C No. 3 Bayport-Blue
Point from Division II.
Northport will host the winner of the May 17 game, when No. 11 Half Hollow
Hills West takes on No. 6 Bay Shore. The coach said Bay Shore would be
the likely winner, posing a greater threat and boasting a few more
weapons than the Colts.
We have high expectations because weve had a nice season.
Were performing well, and the players have really worked hard from
off through the regular season, so there is an expectation to do better
than we have in the past, Searing said.
|
|
|
|
|
Enlarge
This Image |
|
| |
|

Senior co-captain and midfielder John Trainor
goes after a Colt during a home game earlier this month.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|