Yorktown Connor’s the Market in Epic Fashion
Epic was the one buzzword being tossed about after the top-seeded Yorktown High Cornhusker sent its faithful “Crop” into frenzy mode upon the Conor-to-Connor connection. Sophomore Connor Vercruysse deposited a neat feed from Marquette-bound senior attackman Conor Gately and the Huskers were crowned Section 1 champions for the 35thtime in program history, sending No.2 John Jay packing after a thrilling 9-8 overtime win in the Class B title tilt at White Plains High last Wednesday.
“It’s amazing,” said Vercruysse. “My team was behind me the whole way. I didn’t think it was going to go in at first, but it did… it’s awesome, just awesome. Our coaches tell us it’s just a ground ball battle and we have to fight to the end, which is what we did. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. It’s the greatest goal of my life.”
State-ranked (No.7) Yorktown (16-4) did one better in the Class B regional semis, pummeling Section 2 champion Queensbury, 18-7, at Clarkstown South last Saturday behind four goals and an assist from junior middie Brian Prestreau and hat tricks from junior attack Nick Mariano (3A) and Vercruysse, who turned his second trick in as many games. Gately added five points (2G, 3A) and the ’Huskers earned a rematch of last year’s state semis with nationally-ranked (No.1) Garden City in the regional championship this Wednesday (8:00 p.m.) at Hofstra University. The history between the two glamour clubs is rich, including a 10-8 Garden City win last year. The Trojans (20-0) are 4-4 against Yorktown in post-season hookups.
To a man, Yorktown will need to play better than it did against Jay, including the coaching staff, which, admittedly, did not have its best game against the Indians.
“I’m thankful to my kids because they were terribly coached tonight,” a reflective Marr said on bended knee. “With 40 seconds left and possession of the ball, I should have called timeout. I thought Danny (Manning) would run it behind the goal, but Danny didn’t, and then they get the ball. In overtime, I should have called timeout, too, before we lost possession. We tried to, but the refs didn’t hear me. It’s disappointing to me that I left our kids in that position.”
His kids bailed him out though, and Marr was more than thankful that his close defense – including Trevor Koelsch, Eric Cooley and Austin Fusco – came up huge for 47 minutes.
It was apparent early on that this would be an epic game. Jay’s Tommy Beck scored at 5:41 of the first, followed by another at 3:37 for a 2-0 lead. Frankie Fusco would answer for Yorktown at 1:12 of the first.
In the second quarter, at 10:55 Husker Prestreau would score the equalizer from Gately, 2-2. At 10:07 Vercruysse would score the first of three goals for a 3-2 lead, again from Gately, perhaps the most impressive feeder in Section 1 this season. Jay’s Sean Smith buzzed a feed to Andrew Duffy to tie it at 3-3 at the 5:18 mark. Jay’s Matt Ferentini gave jay a 4-3 lead just before the half, leaving the Yorktown and its fabled Crop in a state of disbelief.
In the third quarter, Vercruysse wasted little time tying the game at 9:01 off a Mariano feed. The UMass-bound Mariano would perk up, scoring one of his own for a 5-4 Yorktown lead at the 6:10 mark. Mariano would then slip just above the crease from behind the cage to stuff home another at 4:46, man-up. Prestreau would provide a 7-4 lead at the 3:38 mark. Ferentini had the answer for Jay, making it 7-5 at 2:25.
In the fourth quarter, Jay’s Doug Brown made it a one-goal game at the 6:07 mark. With 3:17 left, it looked like Frankie Fusco had sealed the deal, giving the Huskers a two-goal cushion. But Bostwick scored with 40.6 seconds left and Lobosco forced OT with 11.2 left.
Jay had the first big chance in OT, but coughed up the ball in a settled situation, leading to the Vercruysse game-winner.
Amidst the championship hubbub, Yorktown senior Frankie Fusco joined Gately on the All-American stage, becoming one half of the first father-son All-American team in Yorktown history. Fusco’s father, Frank (circa 1980), was an exemplary long pole for a 20-3 Yorktown team that reached the state finals.
“It’s the most amazing thing to be nominated for and receive an All-American and then to be a part of the first father son All-Americans is incredible,” said Fusco, who put a pair between the pipes against John Jay. “But I couldn’t do it without the guys surrounding me making me look good and giving me the opportunities to succeed.”
Here’s catch, though: Frank and Frankie Fusco best leave some room at the All-American table for up-and-coming sophomore, Austin Fusco, a 6’ 175-pound pole who has already committed to Syracuse and could become the first two-time A-A in the family if all pans out according to plan the next two years.
“We have talked about that, and it’s pretty unreal,” said Frankie Fusco, half lax star, half rock star. “There’s plenty of room at the table for my brother.”…
Prestreau to the Rescue: Just a junior, Husker middie Brian Prestreau is drawing rave playoff reviews, scoring 10 goals in four post-season affairs and 16 goals in his last six games overall. Throw in 11 GBs for good measure and you have the makings of a complete player.
Rook Stands Tall: Yorktown goalie Austin Graham, a 5’6” sophomore on the slight-of-build side, stood up pretty tall against John Jay, making eight saves. I know we put some pressure on the young rook in these pages, but now that he got the W under his belt, his mom, Lisa, can chill with the other “former goalie moms”; a tight-knit unit who sit in near panic during these pressure-packed situations.
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.
