Lacrosse Playoffs

In Suffolk County's Lacrosse playoffs this year, under the lights  at Stony Brook University's LaValle Stadium, Smithtown West made their first ever appearance in the Claas B final. Their coach, Sean Keenan, had been in several finals, having played for Ward Melville during its haydays.

     After disposing of two opponents including the top seed in the quarter and semi finals, the Bulls played tentatively and were not able to overcome the Sayville Golden Flashes who had been bridesmaids several times before, but never a bride.

     Smithtown's Brett Madaraszis is shown beating Sayville's middie Dan Mellynchuk for one of his two scores. He also had three assists to make him Smithtown's best score-maker for the night.

   Sayville will go on to represent Suffolk County in the Long Island playoff against Manhasset HS  the following week at Hofstra University. The winner of that game plays in the New York semifinal game two days hence.

Girls Lacrosse Champs

Covering the girls lacrosse county championship games in Suffolk County had its moments last night. In a Class A game between No 1 Northport and No 2 West Islip, the game was a seesaw affair with 11 ties as West Islip gave Northport a real scare. With 31.6 seconds remaining, Shannon Gilroy tied the game for Northport at 13, then with 13.8 seconds left she scored the game winner, her eighth goal of the game.

In the photo, the elements of the glory of winning and agony of defeat are seen as Shannon Gilroy hugs teammate Kim McGeever, while West Islip's Olivia Ziegler is crushed by the goal.

Gilroy's shot to tie the game for the 11th time came when she ripped a high shot and was falling down at the same time. It was a really great score in the mind of an attending college level coach who saw the game. Gilroy is a sophmore. Then to top it off, the team gave her the ball and cleared a path for her to score the winner, another rip from up top.