Yorktown Beating John Jay ain’t no Schurr Thing
You have to figure John Jay High lacrosse Coach Tim Schurr had to be licking his chops over the fact that No.5 Rye gave top-seeded Yorktown fits for three quarters in the Huskers’ 14-7 semifinal win in last Thursday’s Section 1 Class B semifinal at Charlie Murphy Field. Either the Huskers (14-4) were looking past Rye(11-7) or they were reading too many positive press clippings, which had put the cart before the horse and anointed them champions (guilty as charged!).
“Little bit of both, they came out with way more intensity than us,” All-American-in-waiting Conor Gately said of the Huskers. “We were a little jittery, too; not going to lie. It was the last game on Charlie Murphy Field for us seniors, but once we calmed it down we looked good.”
Yeah, Gatley (2G, 5A) and UMass-bound Nick Mariano (4G, 2A) looked real good, but something has to give in the finals or John Jay could be the fourth team since 1997 (2006, 2010) to send Coach Dave Marr’s Huskers packing, even though the Huskers own a 9-1 edge on John Jay in championship affairs.
This sense of entitlement thing can only take state-ranked (No.8) Yorktown so far, so just slipping on that green and white jersey won’t be enough this Wednesday when the second-seeded Indians (12-6) come to White Plains with a Tim Schurr-designed game plan in hand.
No.3 Somers (11-8) found that out the hard way; losing 9-3 in the other Class B semifinal last Thursday night at John Jay. Coach Lew Janavey’s Tuskers were slapped square in the kisser with Coach Schurr’s adjustments, which countered a recent 9-6 Somers win back in April.
The Somers attack/midfield never got its flow going against Schurr’s zone-oriented defense, which is something Yorktown should expect to see more of as the Indians forge a barrier around their All-Section goalie, Fairfield-bound Tom Branca.
Remember, a hot goalie can cool off the most potent attack around, which, essentially, is John Jay’s best shot at beating Yorktown, which counters with a sophomore rookie goaltender in Austin Graham, who has been thrust into a baptism-by-fire situation. One goalie is an All-American candidate while the other is an undersized rook with a lot of potential. Jay is counting on a low-scoring affair and an All-American game from LSM Jack Lambert to cool Yorktown’s jets.
Nobody is saying Yorktown won’t be crowned sectional champions for a record-setting 35th time around 7:30ish next Wednesday. But it’s certainly going to take a better effort than the one the Huskers gave against Rye and it brilliant coaching staff; the fabulous Dooley Brothers of Yorktown fame. You let John Jay hang around, 7-7ish through three quarters and this puppy is going down to the last possession and a mandatory face-off win by Husker middie Danny Manning. With Lambert coming in off the wing that is not something the Huskers can afford to count on. A blink-quick Yorktown start with persistent finishing might force John Jay to gamble some, but there are indications that this game could come down to the wire if Yorktown doesn’t bring its a-game.
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.
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