Manhasset's defense, well-balanced offense lead win over SWR 

Shoreham-Wading River brought some impressive firepower to LIU’s turf for Sunday’s high-level matchup against Manhasset.

When it was over, Manhasset had made a huge defensive impression, the backbone of a 6-4 boys lacrosse win.

“I consider us a very high-powered offense and they did just a great job defensively,” SWR coach Mike Taylor said. “I thought in one-on-one matchups today, they won them all across the field.”

Manhasset won a second straight state Class C title after defeating the Suffolk champion Wildcats, 11-6, in last year’s Long Island championship game. Now Manhasset is in Class B. It’s off to a 7-2 start.

“I know we lost a lot of players, but we’re working just as hard,” senior midfielder Luca Petruccelli said. “ . . . We could definitely fight for another title.”

The 4-2 Wildcats could, too. They have premier talents in Duke-bound senior attack Liam Kershis and John Hopkins-bound senior midfielder/faceoff man Liam Gregorek. Kershis had two goals and two assists.

Sophomore defenseman Kip Zacharia made his season debut after an injury and received praise for his work against Kershis.

“He came back and played amazing,” said senior goalie Matthew Im, who made six saves.

Six different players scored for Manhasset.

“Like to hear that, right?” coach Keith Cromwell said. “Listen, we’re not overly deep on a roster standpoint . . . I think we’re at our best when guys are sharing the rock and different guys are stepping up for us.”

Cromwell called the game “a step in the right direction.”

Kershis scored 3:58 into the third period to tie it at 4. But Marco Petruccelli, Luca’s freshman brother, delivered the go-ahead goal from the right doorstep off a pass from Conor Sheerin with 4:47 left in the third.

Luca Petruccelli took out insurance, scoring with 6:22 left in the game. “It was nice to get a two-goal buffer, just a little bit of a breath of fresh air,” he said.

Manhasset took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Tommy Leder had a goal and Daniel O’Connor scored from close range while falling to the ground.

After the Wildcats tied it early in the second quarter, Patrick Arnold put Manhasset ahead 3-2, beating Jaden Galfano, who had a seven-save day.

Danny Kolin made a run and scored to give Manhasset a 4-2 lead before Kershis fed Andrew Cimino for a goal. So it was 4-3 Manhasset at halftime.

“It was two really top teams going at it,” Taylor said. “It’s a good time to be using it as a measuring tool of where we are at this time of the year. Obviously, we need to improve.”