Comsewogue edges Shoreham-Wading River in four OTs

After nearly 63 minutes of excruciatingly close lacrosse, including more than 14 minutes of scoreless overtime, the immediate reaction felt by Alex Zomerfeld and Tom Cleary after Comsewogue's winning goal was identical: "Relief, definitely relief," they said in unison.

Relief was the appropriate word because they were the closers.

Cleary took a pass from Zomerfeld on the perimeter and fired a shot low into the left corner in the fourth overtime to give the Warriors a stirring 9-8 victory over Shoreham-Wading River last night. Nearly all of the crowd estimated at 1,000 was still at Comsewogue's turf stadium for the dramatic ending, not daring to leave for fear they might miss something special.

"Whenever we play Shoreham-Wading River, it's a great game. Big rivalry," said Cleary, who scored three goals and had one assist.

In passing yet another big test, Comsewogue remained the only unbeaten team in Suffolk at 11-0. SWR is 8-3.

The Zomerfeld-Cleary connection ended a marathon game that featured brilliant defense after halftime but began with the offenses dominating. A 4-4 first quarter resulted in both goalies being replaced. Goals by Tim Rotanz and Patrick Menezes gave the Wildcats a 6-4 lead, and they still led 6-5 entering the final minute of the first half. That's when Zomerfeld erased that deficit almost single-handedly.

He scored off a feed from Connor Duddy to tie it with 33 seconds left and then made a spectacular solo dash to put the Warriors ahead 7-6 with 15.7 seconds left.

SEE PHOTOSComsewogue 9, Shoreham-Wading River 8

"I had an open lane so I moved my feet and scored. Then I got it back and did it again," said Zomerfeld, making it sound far easier than it was.

Little did either team know that goal would become precious in the second half. Zomerfeld completed his hat trick with a truly remarkable goal, scored while falling, to make it 8-6 with 6:10 left.

But Shoreham-Wading River did not go quietly. Far from it. Mike Malave scored on a feed from Menezes with 4:02 left, and Dan Stern took a nifty feed from Connor Drost at the post to tie it with 2:53.

Comsewogue controlled play in the overtime periods, as Zomerfeld hit two posts and the Warriors had possession in the SWR end for all of the third and fourth overtimes.

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"We were getting plenty of shots. I knew one would go in," Zomerfeld. "We were just freelancing on offense and moving the ball."

Cleary was moving, too, and when he got open up top, Zomerfeld found his man. "I just looked for a gap in the defense and finally got an open shot," Cleary said.

Open shot. Case closed. Finally.