Moore gives West Islip tasty OT win

Cookies and cupcakes were a fitting second dessert for the Lions.

Drew Federico was given a cookie behind the net in overtime, then fed a cupcake to Tom Moore for a the game-winner 3:39 into overtime.

The result was an 8-7 win for host West Islip (13-0, 11-0) over Smithtown West in Suffolk Division I boys lacrosse Friday. It extended the Lions' winning streak to 34, the longest active streak on Long Island. They celebrated as they usually do -- with sugary snacks.

"We [botched] a play, the ball bounces right to Drew, and Tom puts the ball away," West Islip coach Scott Craig said. "That the ball bounced right to Drew was a little bit of luck."

Mike Sagl, who had three goals and two assists, fired from 5 yards out, but a Bulls defender deflected his stick. The ball flew directly to Federico behind the net, and he flipped to Moore, who scored his third goal from 10 yards. Said Federico: "When he stepped to the ball hard and took that jump shot, he's a big, strong kid, and I had confidence he'd put it away."

Moore scored the Lions' only goal of the second half on an assist from Nick Aponte 29 seconds into the fourth quarter to give West Islip a 7-5 lead.

Patrick O'Brien cut it to one for Smithtown West (9-3, 8-2) with 8:08 to play, then Frankie Reda tied it on his second goal with 3:27 left.

SEE PHOTOSWest Islip 8, Smithtown West 7 (OT)

Craig Madarasz, who won 15 of 19 faceoffs for the Bulls, won the opening draw in overtime, but a deflected shot gave the ball back to the Lions.

"We know one slip-up, and it's the game," Federico said. "We definitely have a lot of confidence in our defense. We know they can get us the ball back to win the game."

West Islip defender Anthony Santo was given the task of shutting down James Pannell. The Bulls' star scored all three of his goals in the first quarter, but he and the Bulls' offense were scoreless the next 20:06. Pannell was briefly injured in OT, but returned.

"I just tried to deny him," Santo said. "When he got the ball, we usually tried to keep him away from the right side."

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The Bulls, who had their six-game winning streak snapped, were without points leader Kyle Keenan, who suffered a concussion last Friday.

The win was the Lions' second in the last 10 days against one of its two closest Division I competitors. They beat Ward Melville, 7-6, on goalie Kyle Turri's OT goal April 27. Said Moore: "When the game is on the line, being [in this position] definitely helps."

The Lions generally have to wait until after OT to get their postgame treats.

Not Friday.