JUNE 8, 2000 THURSDAY 8:00 PM

WOODSIE!!! 

For the second time this year the Patriots were forced by circumstance to play back to back games of some consequence. On a week crowded with games, they played Commack...representing the potential 600th win of Coach Joe Cuozzo's Melville career. Expectations and emotions were high. The following day the boys faced a team carrying the weight of an entire state's legitimacy in the sport. Darien was out to prove something and the Patriots rose to the occasion. Tuesday's rainstorm forced Melville to play a physical battle with Nassau County's champion the Massapequa Chiefs on Wednesday (last night) instead. The chiefs played hard and kept a close contest into the third quarter. Today, with no rest, they had to suck it up and play one of the traditional defensive bulwarks of New York Lacrosse. Four years ago, Mahopac beat a terrific Melville team 2-1! And continued on to be state champs. Tonight this tired Melville team avenged that loss, earning the right to play for the New York State title in class 'A'. This is an extraordinary team not because of its marquis players, but because it is a living, breathing thing that adjusts to the circumstances it finds itself in and uses all of its assets to accomplish their common goal. In short, if you stop one or two or even three, you don't stop all of them! 

Ian Applegate rose to his calling to carry this Melville team to a NYS semifinal victory. A career game for the senior midfielder who had two goals on the game. He scored early and netted the game winner with 54 seconds remaining on a feed from the hot hands of Kurt Gerry. He also handled key clears for his Patriots...showing resilience and exceptional footspeed, taking his game to new heights (many of us knew he could...tonight he knows too). Prior to that, backup goalie Kevin Woods (who you all know had serious health problems earlier this year that most doctors though would prevent him from ever participating in sports again) takes the field on a penalty to Nick Gentilesco and proceeds to stone the Mahopac shooters on the doorstep, point blank...not once...but twice!!! late in the game. In the third, two long poles race downfield into the attack zone...one is the veteran All American who finds the un-labeled but confidant sophomore...Thomas Theodorakis who takes the feed, turns and buries his heroic shot to tie the game at 5 each. Kurt Gerry once again played exceptionally, leading all scorers with 4 points (2g2a). His re-discovered outside shooting, ground ball work and overall hustling play were integral in the team's success. Matty Mo finding Matsui, quick sticking for the tie at 6 late in the fourth. Midfielders Casino and Ferraro gutted it out in the faceoff circle, rallying when the chips were down. The Patriots, having learned their lesson from tightly called games with very costly penalties, mostly avoided even the appearance of wrong doing. The defense also had another excellent performance, holding Mahopac scoreless in the fourth period while the offense notched two for the win. 

Mahopac scored first. Melville tied but Mahopac answered to finish the first down 1 at 2-1. Mahopac scored two more unanswered on some tenacious good play and missed coverage. The defense regrouped and the Patriots gained control, creating many opportunities and scoring two for a one goal deficit, down 4-3 at the break. The Patriots are then subjected to an official who found an non-coach member of the greater Melville contingent...translation...a guy on the sideline, maybe a fan or relative, nowhere near the team and not a coach of the team...and told him there were two minutes left in the break. The official is supposed to tell the team...he did not. Coach Cuozzo and the Patriots arrive on the field to find themselves assessed with a technical delay of game to begin the third period. Melville wins the ball back and is assessed with an interference penalty long after the play, and far away from the play...with the ball already at midfield. With so much possession, Mahopac finally capitalized and opened a two goal lead. The Pats answered with two to tie at five but again had opportunities for many more. Mahopac kept chugging and pushed in one more for a 6-5 lead after three periods. Melville's D clamped down but faced an unsettled break on goal. Nicky G decided to help the defense and crashed hard into a sandwiched Mahopac attackman and drew an unnecessary roughness penalty that was aptly deserved. Enter Kevin Woods, with no big game experience, no playing time of significance over the last few games...and the game of his life on the line. Mahopac moved the ball very well, sensing that this could nail down a shot at the title. Their man-up unit got the shot they wanted...alone at the crease...one on one...stoned by Woodsie!!! They get it back on offense and create a second quality shot that Woodsie handles to help set the stage for the Patriots winning drives. After many rushes at the cage and shots by the Patriots, Mahopac adds one slash too many and is called for it.  The patient Melville man-up finds Matsui from Monfett to tie at 6 with 2:56 left on the clock. With the time now under a minute, and many more shots missing their target, the Patriots take the easy road...and finally take advantage of Mahopac's slide package. Gerry draws two with Applegate cutting, feeds the crease with Ian burying the game winner and Mahopac's plans  for an upset. Drew Casino dug down deep, as he has so many times for his team, and won another faceoff. Mahopac did manage one more shot that was handled easily by Nicky G. who fired the ball into the sky to run out the clock. 

There is much more to tell about how these guys can pull together and get the job done. Mahopac well prepared and played a great game tonight. But Melville played better, and their best is yet to come!

With a day of rest they will be ready...with a full tank...to take on Orchard Park in the NYS Finals this Saturday at 4pm- Hofstra University. 

Incredible Effort!  Hard Work! Go Patriots!