Boys’ Lax Notebook: Hen Hud Makes History in 1st Ever Win over John Jay
Yorktown’s Strong 2nd Half Fuels Win over Somers
Besides the obvious, like reigning NYS Class B champion Yorktown High is pretty dang good once it gets past its potentially damaging slow starts, here’s what we may have learned in Week 2 on the Section 1 lacrosse circuit: Lakeland/Panas and Mahopac may not be as good as we originally hoped; Somers is probably better than initially expected; and Hen Hud is a program you should probably get on your radar. Oh, and lacrosse, in general, is down, way down, in this neck of the woods in early April. And, remember, the end of May comes quickly.
The story of the week had to be Hen Hud’s 10-9 overtime triumph of John Jay, whom they beat for the first time ever when senior Ryan Tandy tickled the twine in extra time. Matt Kolesar led the Sailors with three goals and two assists while junior Mike Smith added three goals.
“Oh man what a great feeling it is,” Smith exclaimed! “We couldn’t have done it in a cooler fashion; an OT winner, there is nothing better than that! After that goal went in I couldn’t stop smiling. Being able to beat a great team like John jay for the first time ever is amazing. There isn’t a better feeling! Also being able to see the excitement from our coaches was amazing. The coaches that have tried to beat John Jay for years and never did, and now they got to see a win over them it was awesome.”
Tandy finished with two goals and two assists.
“It feels great,” Tandy said! “It wasn’t perfect and it was a grind-it-out type of win, but all the guys were really pumped and I feel like this could really propel us forward.”
Forward would be the Sailors’ first Class B championship game appearance, which might not be out of the question considering they just knocked off John Jay, the Class B runner-up three years running.
Hen Hud boss Craig Solomon concurred this was bigger than most regular season wins.
“All of these kids love to be in the moment,” said Solomon. “We’re getting huge contributions from three freshman in Austin Fraser on attack, Alan Jackson at LSM and Vinny Bell in goal. Also, we are so balanced on offense with all six players able to score. To go along with that, Jared Hershman facing off, so we know we will get the ball back.”
And when they do’t the Sailors are getting a solid defensive effort from three seniors, Carson Jacobs, Matt Kenny and Ryan Lustyik.
“It’s just a great group of players and coaches, so things are really good right now,” Solomon said…
Here’s a humdrum poll for some bulletin-board fodder for those of you that need it.
NWE/Putnam Fab Five Lax Poll
No.1 YORKTOWN – Senior M Mike Dedvukaj reminded us all that he in on course for an All-American campaign, going for four goals in a 12-5 win over host Somers after hitting for a career-high seven goals in an 18-4 rout of Mahopac. Rookie Justin Cavallo (3G) was also big against the Tuskers. The undefeated Huskers (5-0) also saw young Kyle Casey drop a five-spot on Greeley in a 19-5 triumph of the Quakers while Nick Del Bene and Ryan Baker each dropped hats on the field. Bakes is cooking at the dot, too, winning 70%, and posing as a legit A-A candidate.
No.2 HEN HUD – Yeah, there, I said it: Hen Hud is the 2nd best team in the NWE/Putnam area. First time anyone ever said that, huh? Against John Jay, Nick Marra (1G, 1A), Frank Riefenhauser (1G, 1A) and Austin Fraser (2A) filled in nicely against behind the big guns, which has to continue if Coach Solly’s Sailors (2-1) are going to make a move in Class B from also-ran to contenders.
No.2A SOMERS – Coach DeGregorio’s Tuskers (1-2) threw the fear of God into Yorktown for a half when the Tuskers trailed the Huskers, 3-2, but they eventually succumbed to a superior brand of stick when the Huskers went on a 9-3 second-half run. Vincent Cartelli (1G, 2A) Joe Hashmall (2G) had his moments for the Tuskers, who relied on G Justin Monaco (15 saves) throughout the first half. Still, the fact Somers hung hard with Yorktown has to be a moral victory for a club seeking a new identity and its first Class B title appearance since 2009.
No.4 LAKELAND/PANAS –Coach Lindsay’s Rebels (2-2) took two on the chin this week and reminded us what a rebuilding season looks like in a pair of lopsided losses to Section 2 power Shenendehowa and Suffern, which was really bothersome. How the Rebels intend to make up the 12-goal differential between them and the Mounties by late May is a tall order.
And by the way, thanks to my boy Tom Cegielski for gently reminding me that Lakeland did win the Section 1 Class B title back in 1984, beating, uhm, Roosevelt of all teams, which gives Lakeland four sectional championships without Panas as its sidekick, nine with them.
No.5 PUT VALLEY – If Coach Ignatz’s Tigers (1-1) didn’t have the wherewithal to stand tall with Class C runner-up Pleasantville in a 13-3 beatdown last Thursday, what the heck is going to happen when/if they face Bronxville in May? The penalty box is not your friend, boys, stay out of it and you might contend and maybe even beat Mahopac for a third-straight year today.
HM BREWSTER – Coach Honey’s Bears (1-2) played Yorktown a lot tougher than Mahopac did.
HM MAHOPAC – Coach Haddeland’s Indians (0-2) discovered the next level of lacrosse in an 18-4 shellacking at the hands of Yorktown. The surprising thing is that it was never a game, since the Indians usually play the Huskers strong for a half before fading in recent seasons. I think the Indians have superior overall athleticism than Put Valley does, but the Mello boy could be the difference between the pipes for the Tigers in what should be a last possession game today.
Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.
Visit Ray’s author bio page for more details. Also read Ray’s archived work here and his Direct Rays column here.