Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays
With three Rebel defenders ready to pounce on Yorktown, sophomore A. James Carney scored a key goal in the top-seeded Huskus’ 10-5 win over fifth-seeded Lakeland Panas on Friday.
If you remember our preview section in late March, in these boys lacrosse notes, we predicted almost everything perfectly, especially in Class B, and said the following: The fact that Mahopac lost a lot of players across the field to graduation certainly gives Horace Greeley a shot at seven-time New York State champion Yorktown, who won their 41st Section 1 crown and remain the team to beat unless disproved. However, Greeley has a top-tier lineup of players in Matthew Byrne, Jameson Blakeslee, Jack Holub and Connor Rummel, and the Quakers also have an anchor in G Toby Moscow.
And now, about nine weeks later, we’re on the brink of defying all expectations, with No. 3 seed HORACE GREELEY facing No. 1 seed YORKTOWN on Wednesday. The state-ranked (No. 20) Quakers thumped No. 2 seed and state-ranked (No. 6) Sommers, 12-6, and the state-ranked (No. 7) Huskers thumped No. 5 seed Lakeland/Panas, 10-5, in a semifinal match on Friday at Charlie Murphy Field, where the Huskers (13-5) will host the Quakers (13-5) for a spot in the NYSPHSAA Tournament.
This is some serious home-cooked cooking, and they’ll be turning up the stove on Wednesday for a game they’ve pretty much predicted all the way back to late in the 2023 season.
Summers had every attack going at Greeley’s Jameson Blakeslee, including a jumping attack on M. Dean Palazzolo, but it wasn’t enough to stop the third-seeded Quakers from beating the second-seeded Taskers 12-6 in Friday’s semifinals.
“We know how important this game is to us, so we’ve been working hard in practice and everyone is focused,” Husker captain Ryan Vogel said. “We just have to play our lacrosse and not let the pressure of a big game get to us.”
Getting there was half the battle, as Yorktown had to fend off the challenge of fifth-seeded Lakeland/Panas, whose Rebels (9-9) hung in there for three-plus quarters to pull away with a five-goal victory that would send the Huskers to their 44th consecutive district championship.
Yorktown senior Drew Weissman returned to the lineup after missing six games with an ankle injury, and he immediately made an impact, recording a hat trick and two assists.
Sophomore JT Carney (3G) made a strong debut and grew more confident with each game. Gianluca Marchini (2G), Dylan Delvecchio (1G) and Vogel (1G) all contributed goals to support G Hunter Mezzatesta (7 saves). Huskers M Chad Bowen (13/16 FO) continues to be one of the top faceoff players in the section, providing possession for the Huskers. The Huskers will need more possession to slow down Greeley.
Bubba Baumeister (2G), Kyle Gallagher (1G, 1A), Will Moore (1G), Vinny Savastano (1G) and Jack Jimenez (1A) scored for the Rebels, while goaltender KC Bryan (11 saves) kept state-ranked (No. 20) L/P in contention for the championship for more than three quarters following a solid 2024 season.
Carmel M Jake Lotz was trailed by stick-swinging Ben Fromm of No. 3-seeded Scarsdale as the No. 2-seeded Rams defeated the Red Raiders, who were then on their way to winning back-to-back district championships, 10-7, in the Section 1 Class A semifinals.
Yorktown is looking for its 42nd Section 1 title, while Greeley is on the verge of its first after beating Somers on a rough night.
“I think we’re playing our best right now,” said Quaker sniper Jameson Blakeslee, who had four goals and assisted on another. “We’ve really learned how to slow down our offense and play the game at our own pace. Somers was a great team and so is Yorktown. I believe our defense and goaltending will stop them in transition. Yorktown has a great defense and goaltending as well, so I’m looking forward to playing them. I think this is definitely a winnable game and our team wants to make history.”
Greeley hasn’t made history since 2006, its last championship appearance.
The Quakers will need as much or even more production from Blakeslee, Connor Rummel (3G), Jack Holub (2G, 1A), Jason Kim (1G, 1A) and Ty Dolan (1G) as they close the gap on the Tuskers.
Quaker G Toby Moskow (14 saves) will need to play another impressive game like he did when he held off Tusker hotshots Mac Sullivan (2G), Miguel Iglesias (1G, 1A), Cameron Violante (1G) and Grayden Carr (1G). Despite a dominant performance from M Matt Mayfield (19 of 21 faceoff wins), the Tusker struggled to finish. Summers G Landon Pepe made seven saves.
Red-hot Lakeland Panas’ M Bubba Baumeister drew the ire of fifth-seeded Rebels fans as the play of Yorktown’s D Connor Duncan and G Hunter Mezzatesta set the tone during Friday’s 10-5 loss to top-seeded Yorktown.
While it wasn’t the ending Summers wanted, the unit changed the trajectory of the program and began a climb toward its first district title since 2009.
Class A
In Carmel’s first and only semifinal game on Thursday against three-time Section 1 champion Scarsdale, Rams G Jake Meissner played a key role, stopping 21 shots and scoring his first varsity goal to lead the history-making Rams (15-3) to their first championship appearance with a 10-7 win over the third-seeded Red Raiders.
“This team has been working toward this goal for the last four years,” Carmel coach Matt Chione said of the No. 2-seeded Rams. “They’ve been asked to do more than their share and they’ve delivered every time. I couldn’t be more proud of them, and I want them to get everything they deserve.”
“He doesn’t always get the attention, but Meissner does those things every game to help us win,” Kion added. “Without him, we wouldn’t have won a lot of the games that we did. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s the heart and soul of that defense down there.”
During the third quarter, with the offense and defense switching sides, Meissner ran in all directions without restriction, then counterattacked and shook the net. This was a game changer for Carmel Club, who went into the fourth quarter with the performance of their key players.
Rhett Needleman got the Raiders even with the score in the final minute of the third quarter, and Meissner responded. So did the Rams’ key players. Matt Risley (3G, 2A) and Thomas Connolly (3G, 1A) got away with it. Adam Boeheim (1G, 1A), Ryan Abel (1G, 1A), Jake Lotz (1G, 1A) and Chris Nickerson (1A) all scored. Abel was a threat on both ends of the field, providing the kind of two-way play the Rams will need more of when they face a similarly hungry Mamaroneck club in the championship on Tuesday.
Hen Hud’s Drew Hilltree made the shot and the Sailors won the Section 1 Class C title with a win over Sleepy Hollow.
The Tigers, who defeated No. 4 White Plains 17-2, won five championships between 2012 and 2019 and appeared in 10 of the past 11 championship games before losing three straight titles to Scarsdale. The Tigers have the pedigree, but Carmel has a plethora of talented two-sport players who have specialized in the heat of district championships competing for gridiron feats in recent years. With experience under pressure, a solid backline and strong scoring, Carmel should have the ability to challenge and compete for a title.
“Jake’s a great player, although he certainly doesn’t stand out,” Abel, who will attend Wesleyan University, said of Meissner. “He’s had three playoff games with over 20 saves, and he scored a goal today. You can’t ask for more from a goalie. To be in the championship game is awesome. They’ve done so much to get to this point. Some of our guys have been on varsity for four years, and it’s been awesome to watch them grow. I have no doubt we can win another championship, and we’re ready to make more history.”
Salisbury-bound M/A Risley, Fairfield-bound Connolly and Abel are the faces of that history, and if all three have their way on Tuesday, Carmel District, in desperate need of a boost, could hoist the championship trophy.
“There’s no one I’d rather have playing goalie than Jake,” Risley said. “He’s one of the most reliable players in Section 1. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the world. I’m very proud to be doing this with the guys I do it with. I’ve been playing with these kids since kindergarten and have been blessed to be on this journey with them. I wouldn’t want to share the sideline with anyone else, including coaches, family and friends.”
Westlake’s Cole Burnett steps ahead of the defense as he works his way to the basket for a shot during the first quarter of last Monday’s quarterfinal playoff game. He had three goals and an assist in the Wildcats’ 14-7 win over Dobbs Ferry.
“Everyone in the locker room is cautiously confident,” Risley added. “If we go out there and play our best we can compete with anybody.”
Anyone with even the slightest interest in the #CarmelCrazies should head over to Charlie Murphy Field to watch the title game today at 6:30pm.
Class D
State-ranked (No. 2) PLEASANTVILLE made quick work of HALDANE in a game where the No. 1 seeded Panthers beat the No. 5 seeded Blue Devils 19-4.
Daniel Pickert (5G, 1A), Eric Coleman (3G, 1A), Aidan Cotter (4G, 1A), Nick Reich (3G) and David Hanczynski (2G, 1A) all scored multiple goals for the Panthers, who advanced to the championship game against No. 3 Bronxville on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Charlie Murphy Field.
Emmett McDermott (1A), Braden Feeney (1G) and Hank McCourtney (1G) also scored for the Panthers, who played solid defense in front of G Andrew Nessel (9 saves).
Frank DiGilio (2G) led the Blue Devils, who came off a solid season.
Second-ranked Westlake suffered its first loss of the season, falling 13-7 to Bronxville in the semifinals, despite multi-scoring efforts from Steven DiNapoli (2G), Cole Burnett (1G, 3A), Nicholas DiNapoli (2G), Chris Curl (1G, 1A) and Isaiah Rivera (1G, 1A).
Carmel A Thomas Connolly got off to a strong early start as the No. 2 seeded Rams cruised to a 10-7 win over No. 3 seed Scarsdale on Thursday in a Section 1 Class A semifinal.
Class C
No. 4 HEN HUD ended their season on a high with a 14-3 loss to No. 1 seed and finalist John Jay CR in the semifinals. The Sailors took on No. 5 Sleepy Hollow and won 12-8 after trailing by three goals early in the game.
Kevin Ryan (4G, 1A), Drew Hiltree (4G), James McManus (4A), Connor Prokopiak (2G, 1A) and Dean Pastrob (2G, 1A) paced the Sailors.
Ray Gallagher/Andy Jacobs/Photo by David Tabor
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