Cheers, tears in Hartranft's first title

CICERO, N.Y.

All along, the old coach said it was never about him, it was about the kids. Farmingdale's Bob Hartranft insisted he didn't obsess over not having won a state title despite more than 600 victories in a 42-year career.

"You guys kept bringing it up," he joked to the media.

But when the Dalers scored a pulsating 12-11 overtime victory over Ithaca Saturday in the state Class A championship game, the truth was revealed. It really was about the old coach. "He's been saying all the right things, but we were definitely doing it for him," said midfielder Korey Hendrickson, who scored the winning goal. "Sure, we wanted to win it for ourselves, but after all this time, it really was for him. He's been a father figure to all of us, on and off the field."

Players traditionally hug their coaches after state championships, but these hugs were harder and the embraces lasted longer Saturday.

"We gave it our all for him. He's the reason we won," defenseman Joe Ostrander said. "He told us that we were such a good bunch of kids that he wanted it for us. This was our way of paying him respect. He's one of the greatest motivators in my life."

Ostrander, a senior, then amended his statement. "No, I'll say he is the greatest motivator in my life."

So how did Hartranft motivate the Dalers before Saturday's game? Did he recount the 653 victories he had coming into the contest without a state title? Did he rant and rave? No, he killed them with kindness.

"I told the kids that they've been an unbelievable team for me and that no matter what happened in the game, I loved them," Hartranft said. "That's why I'm so happy for them. They're such great kids."

Hartranft insisted that the victory "doesn't validate anything. Even if we lost, we had a good season and we have a good program."

And the Dalers have a darn good coach who is the face of the program.

"I've only played under him for a year," said Mike Perettine, who transferred from Smithtown West before his senior year. "But I can tell how much the guys really wanted to get this title for him."

Hartranft admitted that when Ithaca scored with 41.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, he thought, "Oh no, not again." He had lost twice before in overtime in the state tournament and knows how difficult it is just to get there, especially in Class A. "It's so hard to get off Long Island. All those years, it was Ward Melville. Then it was West Islip," Hartranft said.

Now, finally, it's Farmingdale. Don't let the coach's blasé demeanor fool you. This one meant something.

"He wanted it really bad," his son Greg said after the game. "He may not say it or show it, but we could see it. To have coached so long without a state title was tough on him. During the season, we can tell you, lacrosse is his life."

Those "we" references were to Greg and his sisters, Nancy and Jill, who also were on the field, hugging their dad and taking turns making Hartranft pose for photos on the old-fashioned AstroTurf field. Hartranft's wife, Maria, was back home on Long Island, minding the grandkids. "We called her right after the game," Greg said. "She just started screaming into the phone."

Greg's reaction when Hendrickson's goal hit the back of the net was more subdued, but no less emotional?

"I just started crying," he said.