Jake Coleman (3g-4a), Brian Reda (2g-3a), Jack Howe (3g-1a), Declan McDermott (3g-1a), Jack Halloran (2g), James Daniele (2g), Patrick Doherty (1g). Goaltending: Jack Fitzgerald 11s/2a = 85% (45 mins), Kyle Hutter 2s = 100% (3 mins)
Penn Yan Falls in State Finals
2018-06-09 - Pleasantville came into the State Final game for the first time in their program history and defeated Penn Yan 16-2. The Panthers have made the State Semi Finals in the past, but this was their first time at the big game. Both teams played a close game for the first quarter before Pleasantville pulled away. The Panthers held the Mustangs scoreless for the final 36 minutes as they slowly added to their offensive count.
Leading the charge for Pleasantville was sophomore Jake Coleman with 3g-4a. Senior Brian Reda finished with 2g-3a and was named the Class D Most Valuable player. The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award was given to senior long stick midfielder Charlie McPhee (Wesleyan). Senior goalie Jack Fitzgerald (Bentley) also had a strong performance for his final game as a Panther. He recorded 11 saves and 2 goals against (85%) and played the majority of the game. Senior Kyle Hutter (West Conn) played 3 minutes and recorded a single save in his final game.
The first half was back and forth with both teams adding two goals. Pleasantville scored first with a behind the cage feed from Coleman to Patrick Doherty. The Panthers held the lead for five minutes before Penn Yan got on the board. Austin Blumbergs scored off a midrange shot from the left flank off a feed from Conner Fingar. Pleasantville scored their second with another feed from Coleman from behind the cage, this time to Jack Howe. The final Mustang goal was scored by Colton Smith with a drive from behind the cage. The game was tied 2-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Pleasantville added another five goals in the second quarter. Most of their scoring began behind the cage, Two of the five were drives from behind and another two were feeds from behind. The fifth goal was an inside feed on a fast-break with Howe finding Reda open on the crease. The Panthers extended their lead to 7-2 at the half.
In the third quarter, they began to pull away. They scored eight more goals in the third and pulled the game into running time. The most impressive goal in the run was another fast-break goal. After a series of 4 quick passes, Reda found Coleman alone across the crease. In the fourth quarter, Pleasantville began to put in their remaining players. In addition to switching out goalies, they attempted to rotate all their players onto the field. With 1:30 remaining in the contest, the Panthers called a timeout to make sure their seniors finished the game on the field. The stalled out the remainder of the clock before storming the field in victory. In addition to their first Boys Lacrosse State Title, the Panthers also won their first Title in Football this year.
