The book for Ward Melville: Dylan Pallonetti (1g), Domic Pryor(1g-1a), Connor Grippee (2g), Eddie Munoz (1g).Goaltending: Dennis Kellerman (6s/7ga 48 mins)

The book for Victor: Jamie Trimboli (1g-1a), Max Lambert (2g), Dan Barrow (2g), Mike DeMarco (3a), Ryan Maloney (1g), Andrew Russell (1g), Goaltending: Chayse Ierlan 4s/5ga (48 mins).

2016-06-11 -  SPORTSFIVE REPORT:  As they have done several times in the last few weeks, The Victor Blue Devils came from behind to win their second straight New York State Championship, with a 7-5 win over Ward Melville (Section 11) at Middletown High School this afternoon.

Ward Melville started off the scoring with the only two goals in the first quarter with unassisted drives to the goal from freshman Dylan Pallonetti and junior Dominic Pryor. With less than three minutes left in the half, Connor Grippe made it 3-0 with a long hard bouncing shot from the far front. Victor finished out the half with their first goal of the game. Senior attackman Max Lambert scored on a tight drive from behind the cage and an underhand shot. The halftime score with 3-1.

There must have been some magic during the halftime break, because the Blue Devils came into the third quarter with three goals in less than three minutes, giving Victor a 4-3 lead with eight minutes left. Dan Barrow started things off when Mike DeMarco drove from behind and dished the ball to Barrow cutting to the crease. Jamie Trimboli found Ryan Maloney on an inside feed. It was a dramatic goal as Maloney had his back to the goalie and through the ball over his shoulder into the top right corner. DeMarco, behind the cage through the ball to sophomore Andrew Russell who had to leap with his stick extended above his head. He then took the one-handed catch directly into an underhand shot giving the Blue Devils their first lead of the game. The third quarter ended with a 4-4 tie after the Patriots scored at the five-minute mark when Grippe scored his second goal on a sweep.

Twelve minutes were left in the 2016 high school lacrosse season and the teams were tied. Ward Melville made their commitment known when they scored in the first minute of the quarter, taking the lead at 5-4. After winning a technical face off, Eddie Munoz received a great pass from Dominic Pryor and put a hard sidearm shot past sophomore Goalie Chayse Ierlan (who finished the game with 4 saves).

The Patriots held on to that lead for over six minutes as the Ward Melville defensive unit pulled tight toward the goal, fending off drives by the many Blue Devil offensive players who like to drive outside to inside. DJ Kellerman had a number of dramatic saves during the game and defensemen John Day and Sean Thornton led the Patriot defensive play and coordinated textbook slides for the Patriots. Feeds to the inside were tough to make and the aggressive and quick stick checks Day and Thornton resulted in numerous caused turnovers.

One of notable talents of the 2016 Blue Devil team has been confidence and although time was running quickly down, they continued to show poise as they continued to play "Victor Lacrosse". Senior midfielder Jamie Trimboli turned the tide at 5:01 with what can only be described as a "force of will" goal as he forced his way toward the left side and a full speed, found a tight corner for the tying goal. With face off specialist TD Ierlan winning face-offs (he finished with 13 of 16), the Blue Devils continued to be very patient in offense, test each of the Patriot defensemen while moving the ball crisply and quickly. Eventually, after a warning to keep it in, DeMarco found Dan Barrow on an inside feed for the go-ahead goal. Ierlan won another face off and the offense worked to take time off the clock. With time running down, the Patriots pulled the goalie and worked to double the ball. With 1:47 left on the clock, Max Lambert broke through a double and scored on an open goal. After another face-off win the Blue Devils played keep away to seal the victory.

It was an exciting finish to another undefeated season and a winning streak of 44 games. Sophomore defenseman Tanner Hay was awarded the defensive MVP plaque. Mike DeMarco was named the offensive MVP and T.D. Ierlan was the game MVP.