Second quarter: West Islip 5, Fairport 5
West Islip controlled time of possession for half of the first quarter but got few good shot attempts. That was costly as Fairport scored two goals in 42 seconds to tighten things up.
Chris Button converted a pass from Maryland-bound senior Brendan Sayler to make it 4-2. Then Sayler found James Manilla on a back-door cut and suddenly the Red Raiders had cut the deficit to one goal.
Martin Manilla tied the game at 4 on another slick feed by Sayler with 3:44 left before halftime.
But West Islip re-took the lead just 24 seconds later when Matt Gebhardt scored on a tough angle shot off a feed from Rob Moore.
Sayler had the goal of the game to that point, beating Kyle Turri with a spectacular one-handed goal as he darted out from behind the cage that made it 5-5. West Islip was definitely in a battle.
Nick Galasso was turned aside by goalie Blaze Riorden in the final seconds, leaving it tied at halftime.
'I've never seen fire sitting on the water' Three Newsday photographers talk to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about covering the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.
'I've never seen fire sitting on the water' Three Newsday photographers talk to NewsdayTV's Macy Egeland about covering the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996.
