DAY IN REVIEW: SATURDAY - There were two games played on the last game of the season and at stake were NYS Championships. McQuaid Jesuit was an 8-7 overtime winner over Farmingdale (Section VIII). South Side (Section VIII) defeated Victor, also in overtime by a score of 12-11. 

FARMINGDALE-7 at MCQUAID JESUIT-8 in overtime in a NYS Championship game - After winning their first Sectional Title and entering their first NYS Championship, the Knights were considered by many as the underdogs to Farmingdale of Section VII who boast some exceptional individual players. 

McQuaid scored the first two goals as AJ Quagrello scored on passes from Jon Harding and Liam Palmer. Senior attackman Caden Lennon who is headed to Bryant next year scored for the Dalers and the first quarter ended at 2-1.

Star attackman, Brendan O`Keefe (Albany) had a big second quarter, scoring two unassisted goals and assisting on another. As the score went back and forth, McQuaid saw two goals from Vincenzo Giangreco (one with an assist from John Harding). The half ended in a 4-4 tie.

The Third quarter saw two unanswered goals from McQuaid, the first by Eoin Meyer from Harding on a feed to the crease, and the second on a bull dodge by JP Gianforti. After three quarters McQuaid led 6-4.

Will DiMarco driving from behind and then feeding to Harding gave the Knights another goal and a three point lead at 9:36. After that, the next three goals were from the Dalers. Cuinn Sunde received the ball on the crease from O`Keefe at 7:49 and less than minute later O~Keefe scored on a sweep. Farmingdale scored after picking the ball up in front of the crease to tie the game at 7-7. Both teams had an opportunity to score in regulation, but with saves by both Gordon and James Caputo, the teams remained tied, forcing overtime.

After shots by O`Keefe (one wide and one big save by Gordon), McQuaid moved the ball down field and with 0:27 left in overtime, sophomore face off midfielder Domenic Giangreco scored the game-winner to give the Knights their first State Championship. Scoring for McQuaid were John Harding (3a), Giangreco (3g), AJ Quagrello (2g), Will DiMarco (1g), Eoin Meyer (1g), JP Gianforti (1g). Will Gordon in the cage 12/7ga. (unofficial). Scoring for Farmingdale were Michael Aiello (3g-2a), Cole DiPietro (2g-1a), Liam Livingston (2g-2a), Cullen Lynch (3g), Griffin Mills (1g), Owen West (1g), Goaltending: Michael Muscarella 6s/11ga = 35% (48 mins). Faceoffs: Michael Melkonian 17W/8L = 68%.        [ BOX SCORE] 

SOUTH SIDE-12 at VICTOR-11 in overtime in a NYS Championship game - The Victor Blue Devils, who after the third quarter, held a 9-5 lead over South Side (Section VIII), saw a determined Cyclone offense score five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter and eventually tying at 11-11 sending the game into overtime. There, in the first minute, Cole DiPietro scored the winning goal on a feed from Liam Livingston to end the game and disappoint the Blue Devils for the second year in a row.

Victor took an early lead up 4-2 at the end of the first quarter on two goals by Tanner Radogna and two from Jack Herendeen. Brody Secker scored the first of his three goals at the top of the second and twenty seconds later Matt Langan score the first of his two goals on a feed from Aiden Clinkscales who ended the game with (1g-2a). South Side ended the scoring for the half with Victor up 6-3.

Still in control, eighth grader Eli Ricci won his faceoff and raced to the goal at the start of the third quarter and then after a very quiet period Secker scored again taking the score to 8-3. Shortly thereafter, Cullen Lynch scored two in a row, including one from behind his back and 15 yards off the crease. Clinkscales  received a cross field pass from Herendeen to end the third quarter with the blue Devils up 9-5.

After three minutes of transition and a couple of saves at both ends of the field, South Side scored an amazing five unanswered goals in the span of five minutes to take their first lead of the game. Michael Aiello (3g-2a) and Lynch both scored unassisted goals, followed by a pair from Liam Livingston (2g-2a) and final goal from Cole DiPietro (2g-1a) who received a clearing pass after coming through the substitution area. The Cyclones were up 10-9, but at the 2:50 mark, long stick middie Matt Langan scored on a cross field pass from Clinkscales and less than a minute later Jackson Mead (1g-1a) scored on a pass from Herendeen to tie and then give Victor the lead with 1:30 left in regulation. In yet another amazing play, Aiello circled the back of the cage and with less than one second left on the clock he shot while falling down and put the ball in the upper corner for the 11-11 tie and overtime. On the first possession DiPietro scored the game winner.

Scoring for McQuaid  John Harding (3a), Giangreco (3g), AJ Quagrello (2g), Will DiMarco (1g), Eoin Meyer (1g), JP Gianforti (1g). Will Gordon in the cage 12/7ga. (Unofficial), Scoring for Farmingdale were  Michael Aiello (3g-2a), Cole DiPietro (2g-1a), Liam Livingston (2g-2a), Cullen Lynch (3g), Griffin Mills (1g), Owen West (1g), Goaltending: Michael Muscarella 6s/11ga = 35% (48 mins). Faceoffs: Michael Melkonian 17W/8L = 68%.         [ BOX SCORE]