Saturday: The End of the Road for Section Five

June 9, 2012 -

Only six teams were left playing lacrosse today at the close of the 2012 season in New York State. Two of them were from Section Five. However, a strong game by Shoreham-Warding River's two-time junior All-American, Tim Rotanz ended the dream for Penn Yan as the Wildcats beat Penn Yan 10-6. In the Class B game, Irondequoit fell to Garden City 11-4. The game was close for most of the game. Tied at 2-2 at the half the Trojans lead 4-3 after the third quarter.

In the Class A game, West Islip won it's fifth Championship in seven years as they defeated Ithaca 12-7.

 

  --  Although a great disappointment for the Mustang faithful, Penn Yan played a good game against Shoreham-Wading River, who won the Class C Championship 10-6 this morning at Middletown. It was the third NYS Championship win for the Wildcats whose coach, Tom Rotanz started the program in 1995.

The game's Most Valuable Player, Tim Rotanz, who figured on seven of the ten goals (5g-2a) showed why, as a junior, he is a two-time All-American. The son of the Head coach was unstoppable and controlled the ball like a quarterback, taking the ball on most of the offensive sets and looking to feed or drive each time.

The Wildcats scored the first two goals in a twenty-six second period at the start of the game. After the first face off Rotanz gave the ball to Trevor Brosco who quickly scored. Brosco left the game early after an injury. On the ensuing face off, Rotanz ran the ball right to the cage and put it past Penn Yan sophomore goalie Brandon Maciejewski. "Mace" kept the Mustangs in the game with another incredible day in the cage and was credited with ten saves. Many were one-on-one against Rotanz.

The Wildcats seemed greatly in control after putting up a 5-0 lead with under three minutes left in the half. Saves by Maciejewski and defensive play by James Burdette and Mike Thiesmeyer and good ball control by Penn Yan's offensive unit made it clear that they would not give up. Ryan Maciejewski made an impressive "no-look" pass to Rion Davison for Penn Yan's first goal with 2:06 left in the half. After a Mustang time out, Davison scored on a feed from Bradley Voigt with eleven seconds left in the half. Shoreham-Wading River led at the half 5-2.

At the beginning ot the third quarter Penn Yan took the score to within two goals. Davison scored his third goal in a row (assisted by Ryan Maciejewski) with a couple of seconds left in a man up set. With the momentum swinging to Penn Yan, the Wildcats scored two quick goals in the last minute of the third quarter to take a 7-3 lead. Rotanz scored his fourth goal on a nice feed from Higgins with 0:26 left. Freshman Ryan Bray scored right after the face off with 0:14 left in the third quarter.

Penn Yan scored first in the last quarter when senior middie Jordan Owen scored the first of two goals scored on shots from outside. With the score 8-5, and the Mustangs pressing, Shoreham stepped up with Rotanz scoring his fifth goal on a drive from back left. Fifty second later Rotanz found Bray cutting from the 30 yard line to give the Wildcats a 10-5 lead. Ryan Maciejewski scored the last goal of the game on an pin-point feed from Chris Castle.

Shoreham-Wading River clearly was the better team in this game. Their zone defense was effective and generally kept the Mustangs from taking shots that may have tested SWR senior goalie Tyler Lutjen (Sienna). He ended the game with eight saves. Tim Rotanz was difficult to control. Although the match up with James Burdette was successful some of the time, the constant pressure by the athletic junior was just too much.  
  

  --  Although the score sounds lopsided at 11-4, the Class B Championship game that put the Trojans from Garden City up against the Eagles from Irondequoit was much closer than it sounds. Senior attackman Nick Doktor scored the first two goals of the game for the Eagles. After two goals by Garden City in the last three minutes of the first quarter the game was tied at 2-2. Neither team scored in the second quarter and the Trojans took the lead in the third quarter which ended with Garden City up 4-3.

In the fourth quarter, Garden City exploded and although the Eagles tried valiantly to come back, the Trojans, who top several lists for best team in the nation, were too much. Two quick goals at the top of the fourth quarter by Devin Dwyer (Harvard) and Liam Kennedy, assisted by Dwyer, gave the Trojans a 6-3 lead. Irondequoit came back with a goal by Gunner Miller who played very well in the game and finished with two goals. Garden City returned with two quick goals in extra man play. Patric Berkery (Penn) who finished the game with 4g scored another goal in extra man to go up 7-4 with 8:26 left in the game. Irondequoit was forced to try doubling the ball and with senior goalie Eric Fischer (8 saves in the game) out of the goal, the Trojans scored three open net goals in the last four minutes of the game.

For the most part, it was a good game for the Eagles. . . at least until the end. It was impressive to see both teams play at a high level for the majority of the game. The quick start by Irondequoit was a surprise for many in attendance who assumed that the game would be a blow out from the start. For Garden City, it was another in a long list of accomplishments as they won their fifth NYS championship, their first since 2000.

Of note, there were eleven players form Garden City who will be playing in college next year and six from Irondequoit. Nick Doktor, who scored 2g in this game, will become a teammate with Patric Berkery(3g) and Rob Savage(2g) when they all go to Penn this fall. 

 

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