BY CHUCK SLATER
SPECIAL TO TOWNLINK NEWS + VIEWS

In sports, one doesn't often get second chances, much less get them just seconds later. But it happened for John Jay lacrosse star Shawn Smith on May 21, and because of it, the No.3-ranked Indians scored a 6-5 overtime road victory over No. 2 Rye to advance to the Class B finals against top-seeded Yorktown on May 23 at White Plains High.

With 40 seconds left in overtime, the high-scoring Smith blasted a shot at the Yorktown goal, but it hit a pipe and bounced back into play.

Teammate Jake Chinitz got the rebound and when Smith called for the ball., gave it to the charging junior midfielder. This time his shot found the net.

"They made it tough for our offense," said Smith, whose team trailed Rye by 3-l and 5-3. But goalie Rob Looney was impenetrable after that.

"Shawn Smith is a standout player," said John Jay coach Tim Schurr, "but the victory was on the shoulders of our defense and Rob Looney. Our defense was phenomenal."

"I was just in the moment," Looney said.

Yorktown defeated Somers, 12-7. Nick Mariano had five goals for the 15-2 winners, who received a scare when Somers pulled within 6-5 in the third period. "We were persistent." said winning coach Dave Marr.

A No. 1 Yorktown vs. No. 3 John Jay match also was forged for the girls' B final at Mamaroneck on May 23.

Yorktown erupted from a 4-4 halftime tie against No. 4 Somers with five consecutive scores, then held on, 13-11. Katie Comerford had four goals for the winners and Nicole DeMase notched a like number for the losers. "We just dug ourselves too deep a hole," said Somers junior Emma Schurr, who had four assists. "I can't wait for next season."

"We looked at the scoreboard (at halftime)," said Huskers senior Amanda Makar. "We decided we're here to play."

John Jay stunned No. 2 Ursuline, 22-12, as Molly O'Reilly had six goals and five assists and Amanda Flayhan had five goals and three assists.

""They beat us twice during the season," Indians coach Christine Smith said. "by one goal in the final seconds and by two goals. We're due."

In the other girls game involving a local team, Putnam Valley, No. 2 in Class C, whipped No.3 Irvington, 16 13, and moved into the final on May 23 at Mamaroneck against Albertus Magnus, which upset No. 1 Pleasantville.

Eva Robson, Erin McCracken and Sabrina Cummings each had four goals for coach Kurt Worell's Valley 15-3 squad and Malissa Wagner scored thrice. Kayleigh Hartnett had 17 saves. "We've got a deep, well balanced team," Worell said.

Three locals lost in other semifinal showdowns:

No. 7 Lakeland/Panas saw its upset streak end when it squandered an early 6-l lead and fell to No. 3 and defending champion Mamaroneck, 7-6, in overtime in Class A. In Class C, No. 3 Hen Hud got three goals from Jake Koch but fell to No. 2 Pleasantville on a goal with six seconds left, 9-8, and No. 4 Croton Harmon lost to No. 1 Bronxville, 12-4.

By Chuck Slater

     Yorktown and Somers. Yorktown vs. Somers. Propinquity, history and tradition have made them fierce athletic rivals. And on Saturday, May 18, boys and girls lacrosse teams advanced to Class B semifinal showdowns with their rival on Tuesday, May 21. In both cases, top-seeded Yorktown squads will host No. 4 seeded Somers representatives.

     On the boys side, Yorktown (15-2) routed Brewster, 19-2, as Connor Veracruysse amassed seven goals while Somers (10-7) outdueled No. 5 Byram Hills, 12-8, as David Rubenstein had three goals and two assists.

     For the girls, it again was Yorktown beating an eighth-seeded Brewster squad, 17-11, and Somers whipping No. 5 Tappan Zee, 10-4.

     During the regular season, the Huskers girls topped the Tuskers, 12-9. “But that was the season opener for both teams,” noted Somers coach Jamie Irving, “and we’re both very changed teams since then.”

     “We can win,” said a confident Tara Schurr, whose three goals led the attack against Tappan Zee as Somers reached the distaff semis for the first time.

BY CHUCK SLATER
SPECIAL TO TOWNLINK NEWS + VIEWS

It was an unusual position for a Sharon Sarsen lacrosse team: Playing to extend its season as a sixth seed in the opening round of the Class A playoffs (May 16). Just as unusual was the Lakeland/Panas girls having a season record with five losses and two ties.

The previous year, the Lakeland/Panas Rebels' lone loss was in the section final. The previous five seasons all produced section championships and often more.

But Sarsen's girls responded as before, with a 19-4 Class A home victory over No. 11 Clarkstown South. Sophomore Molly Fitzpatrick, a season-long standout, had eight goals for the winners. Lakeland/Panas next plays at No. 3 Scarsdale on May 18.

"The season was a struggle," said Rebels captain and defensive star Rebecca Bard, "but our young kids are finally coming together. Hopefully, we're getting on a roll."

Most other local teams were successful in the first round, although Briarcliff, No. 4 in Class C, fell to No. 13 Albertus Magnus. In Class A, No.8 Carmel beat visiting No. 9 New Rochelle, 15-11 and No. 7 Mahopac handled Arlington, 18-10.. In Class B, No. 8 Brewster routed No. 9 Harrison, 17-1 behind six goals by Kristen Ohberg and next faces top-seeded Yorktown while No. 7 Ossining ousted No. 10 Greeley by 14-11.

"It's exciting making it to the second round again," said Ossining captajn Danielle Gervacio, whose team next plays No. 2 Ursuline.

In Class C, No.2 Putnam Valley – the highest seeded area team – survived a war with Rye, 8-7, as Erin McCrudden led the way with three goals and three assists. No. 7 Hen Hud distanced No. 10 Hastings as Amber Feminella scored four times. No. 11 North Salem fell to Valhalla, 11-9, after leading at halftime. In the day's longest game, No. 8 Kennedy ousted No. 9 Westlake in the second overtime.

Interestingly, in the first round of the boys' sectional competition, Lakeland/Panas also rebounded from a sub-par season by routing Suffern, 14-3 as Teddy Lopez and Mike Zingaro combined for 13 saves,

In other boys sectional play, Brewster topped Fox Lane, 10-8, Eastchester edged Ossining, 11-10, Keio nipped Kennedy, 8-7, and Mahopac embarrassed Carmel, 22-1, with a 13-goal second period.

Mahopac, No. 6 in Class A, got five goals and three assists from Ross Thompson.

SLATER'S SLANT
BY CHUCK SLATER

When Nicole Morales chose to pursue junior girls events on a national scale, it meant the John Jay boys – yes, boys – golf team had lost its No. 1 player. Suddenly the Cross River school went from the clear favorite in the section to just one of many contenders.

"Remember," said sophomore club-swinger Bear Carlson, "we also lost Brian Kehoe to graduation, so we were without our top two from last year. I knew I had to step up big time."

Sophomore Bjorn "Bear" Carlson is "probably our best player right now," says Coach Ray DiStephan. Photo courtesy Bear CarlsonWhich is exactly what Bear Carlson has done. He has had clearly the best average for the Indians, whose other three leading golfers are seniors: Ken Hoffman, Alex Berton and Jack Grimm. Carlson is the only one of coach Ray DiStephan's squad who is certain to qualify for the upcoming section singles, although collectively the group figures as a strong contender in the team event.