Hendrickson, Dalers get first state title

CICERO, N.Y. -- The huge green banner has followed them throughout the postseason. It features all 17 Farmingdale seniors, with their names and numbers drawn on a lacrosse jersey. It has been attached to bleacher walls at Farmingdale, Hofstra, White Plains and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Administrators should consider putting it in the school's Hall of Fame.

Senior Korey Hendrickson took a feed from senior Pat Starke and scored in the slot 42 seconds into overtime as the Dalers defeated Ithaca, 12-11, to win the first state Class A boys lacrosse championship in school history. The victory was the 654th for Bob Hartranft, who is a senior, too, having completed his 42nd season as the team's coach. He had lost in overtime in both of his previous appearances in the state tournament.

"Most of the seniors have been together since the third grade. To accomplish this, and to do it for Coach, is amazing," Hendrickson said.

His winning goal followed an Ithaca turnover that created a fast-break opportunity for the Dalers (17-4). Senior Sal Tuttle appeared to beat goalie Max Yavitt, but his shot banged hard off the pipe and bounced out toward midfield. Starke ran it down and darted toward the net. He found Hendrickson in front and the rest is school history for this venerable Nassau sports powerhouse.

"I was on defense, standing near the 50-yard line and I saw Sal's shot hit the crossbar," senior defenseman Joe Ostrander said. "Then I saw Korey in the slot making an inside roll. When he's that close, I'm 100 percent sure he's going to put it in the net."

Hendrickson scored three goals and added an assist. Senior Mike Perettine scored four goals. Starke and senior Brian Prendergast had two apiece and Tuttle had one. "This is unbelievable. I can't even describe the feeling," Perettine said.

The Little Red had the upper hand early, bolting to a 4-1 lead that prompted Hartranft to call a timeout. Prendergast and Starke cut it to 4-3 but Joe Bucci, who netted four goals, scored with 13 seconds left before halftime. Hendrickson and Perettine scored to create the first tie, at 5, and the game was knotted at 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

SEE PHOTOSClass A final: Farmingdale 12, Ithaca 11

"Two great teams that love to push the ball," Hendrickson said.

Riley Lasda, who also had four goals, fired a blast across his body -- running right and shooting left -- with 41.7 seconds left to force overtime. Ithaca won the faceoff and immediately called timeout, allowing Hartranft to adjust his strategy.

"Their midfielders were too good. We couldn't stop them so we went to a zone right there," he said.

After the Little Red turned it over, Hartranft didn't bother with a timeout because he liked what unfolded. "I was glad to see the ball in Korey's hands."

SEE PHOTOSClass A state semis: Farmingdale 14, Shenendehowa 10

Perettine, who scored the dramatic overtime winner against West Islip in the Long Island championship last Saturday to end the Lions' 40-game winning streak, was on the sidelines for this magical moment.

"I almost ran onto the field when Sal hit the pipe. It's hard to keep your emotions in check at a time like that."

He had a senior moment. There were plenty of them for the Dalers Saturday.