MAY 25, 2000 THURSDAY 4:00 PM

Once again the sun shined on the backfield as the  parents of the seniors of this years Patriot team were honored for the final home game of their careers. They were brought out on the field and flanked their offspring for a photo op at halftime. 

On to the game. The boys had some life today and moved the ball well, with the defense working particularly well throughout the game. Despite the lopsided score of May 16th, the Connetquot squad came to play and hustled to the last whistle. They were supported by outstanding goal keeping, credited with 22 saves for the day, with many other near misses.  The Patriots were led in the scoring department by sophomore Jon Matsui who tallied five goals and one assist for the point lead on the game. The Patriots had many close range opportunities steered aside today as they moved the ball, creating exciting opportunities from minute to minute.

The boys opened quickly off the faceoff. From Drew to Jon to Josh, who gets his own rebound to put away goal number one without much time off the clock. Back to the faceoff, the ball moving from Drew to Josh to Nick and around and back to Josh to Jon to the back of the net for number two. Shane struggles with the next faceoff but Chris P strips and retrieves and carries...hits Mele to Josh to Matt to Jon for a near miss. Recover to Gerry...shot/save...recover...Matsui, shot/save. Ball to Connetquot recovered by the Melville D and cleared to Drew upfield to Jon to Matt for goal number three. Connetquot wins the next faceoff and generates a shot...save...rebound to Melville...#44 backhands to the offense...picked up by Matsui...passing...picked off. Unsettled play follows with possession changes and finishes with a Melville shot/save. John Cleaver with a nice recovery  of  a loose ball ... hits Chris P for the upfield clear...feeding Josh to Nick who buries the rock for number four. The next series finds the ball in the Patriots defensive zone where it is re-acquired by Chris P who threads a path down field into the O'Zone and fires a bullet from 8 yards  for a winner to end Melville scoring for the period. Connetquot followed for a goal off the next faceoff to end the quarter at 5-1.

Kurt Gerry fired another hot shot early in the second...saved but is fouled on the play for a Melville Man-up. The Man-up team did not move the ball well in any of the day's opportunities, in sharp contrast to the field play. Losing the ball on this play, Chris P recovered in the D'Zone...and three passes later the ball is in Joshes stick at the crease but we are turned away on two saves. WM gets a penalty and Nicky G steps up to make two nice saves...rebound recovered by #44, wheels and flips to #20 streaking to find Ian Applegate for a hot shot/save. Ball to Connetquot with a shot and save and recover to Applegate clearing...to Connetquot clearing to Melville #44 to Ryan Kelaher to Josh-shot/save...to Connetquot...to Melville who settles the offense. With the ball moving rapidly Josh finds Applegate cutting and lighting it up for number six. Drew wins the faceoff to Gerry setting the offense. Casino moves to position and fires just off post. Ball to Connetquot to the attack. Stripped and cleared by Passavia who rushes full field and fires a near miss. Melville ball. Nick Miaritis artfully works the ball and finds Drew cutting...slamming it home for number seven. The next series gets the ball to Nick M again for some nice work and feed to Josh Ben-Eliyahu at the doorstep...saved again. Connetquot hooked up a nice series of passes and put away a precision shot on the run with very little room to shoot...scoring their second and last goal of the day bringing the score to 7-2. In the next sequence, Shane Ferraro is fouled and the Pats man-up generates one shot opportunity and a near miss. Matty Mo with the ball, gets dispossessed and recovers from the perpetrator, the ball to Matsui firing in one motion, off two side pipes (7-10 split...obscure bowling reference) and in for goal number eight to finish the period up 8-2,

Drew wins the draw to open the second half but we're called on an unusual off sides. Not to worry...the defense retrieves the ball...to Nick M to Jon M and the back of the net and a 9-2 lead. Connetquot wins the next one but Melville gets it back..44 to 34 to  a shooter, just wide. Miaritis on a drive hits the post...to Matsui to O'Dwyer shot/save...recover to Matty Mo to Ben-E and home for number ten. Shane recovers off the next faceoff and finds Will O' to Ian shot/save. The midfield recovers and sets Will O' for another quality shot/save. WM goes man-up to 33 to 13 shot/deflection scooped by Nick M for a quick 5 yard rocket for number eleven. Drew wins the faceoff and the boys get a number of opportunities, including Nicky G winning an endline race for possession and Chris P stripping and recovering.

Casino takes the opener for the fourth and delivers for Jordan Funt to Matsui shot/save. Three more shots are saved or near misses until Kurt Gerry finds Jon Matsui one more time on a fine finishing shot from 5 yards for goal number twelve. Nice work from JV players Seal on defense and Pete Kasper who finds Will O'Dwyer for goal number thirteen to end the scoring at 13-2 for the Patriots. (David Schwartzberg, a standout attackman for the JV was also brought up for the playoffs but was not available. Coach Weeks has done another fine job, preparing some outstanding talent for the varsity level).

Chris Passavia turned in an energized performance today, scoring one goal and being involved in many key defensive and offensive series. John Clever, Chris Mele, Craig Middleton, Jordan Funt, Jarred Funt, Billy Jautze, and John Stebbins, (among others), elevated their games today. 

Congratulations to the Patriot's league award winners   (and to the non-winners-as there are only so many they will let us have). Every Melville player has exhibited exceptional ability this season and the record bears this out. It will take the intensive efforts of each individual on this team to be successful in the games ahead. Each and every one working for every ground ball, aware of each other and radar on their opponents.

Our next game will be against Northport on Tuesday May 30th at Kings Park High School @ 3pm to see who will compete for the county title at Hofstra on Saturday June 3rd.

A solid team effort today, working towards their common goal. They start in February with this goal. They start in Kindergarten with this goal. They are all here for one reason. For the chance to compete in the last game of the season, for the New York State title. One game at a time.

Playoff intensity.

Work Hard. Go Patriots!