Farmingdale State wins; eyes NCAA tourney
Farmingdale State College #25 Shannon Robinson, right, celebrates with teammate / goalkeeper #2 Brian Nerney after their team's 7-6 win over Kean University. (April 27, 2011) Credit: James Escher
The men's lacrosse program at Farmingdale State had a rich tradition when it competed on the junior college level, but has not made the NCAA Tournament since entering Division III in the 1999-2000 season.
That may be about to change as Farmingdale beat Kean (N.J.), 7-6, yesterday in a semifinal of the Skyline Conference Tournament. An automatic bid will be on the line Saturday when Farmingdale hosts the championship against the winner of Wednesday night's game between Montclair State and Maritime. "It's huge, it's way over my head I can't even grasp it right now,'' ecstatic Farmingdale goalie Brian Nerney said.
There is plenty of championship pedigree to suggest Farmingdale's time has come. The key players come from winning programs. So does coach Tim Tuttle, a Farmingdale alumnus who played in numerous NJCAA playoffs and then NCAA Tournament games as a player for Division II NYIT. He was an assistant on NYIT's national champion in 2005. For Farmingdale, all if it has resulted in a 10-4 record and 7-0 mark against conference opponents.
"We've got a special team and we're just going to keep running with it,'' senior attack Wes Hubschmitt said. A transfer from perennial JUCO power Nassau, Hubschmitt scored what turned out to be the winning goal with 4:45 remaining. "It feels great to get Farmingdale to the next level,'' said Hubschmitt, who also had an assist. "We're really looking forward to .''
Hubschmitt was joined by fellow Nassau transfers Shannon Robinson, who had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Oswald, who scored one goal to increase his team-leading total to 34. Jimmy Owsinski, who played at Kings Park High School, scored twice.
The result never seemed in doubt, though Kean made it close by scoring its last goal with 1:15 left in the game. Kean won the final faceoff, but Nerney made his 11th and final save as West Islip's Tom Clifford tried to tie the score with 7.3 seconds left. "He came real hard at me and I just managed to get a piece of the ball and keep it out of the net,'' Nerney said. Farmingdale regained possession, cleared the ball and even though Kean got it back, a desperation heave only reached midfield as time expired.
Tuttle, 39, is in his fourth season. "My plan was within four years to be a team that could compete for the championship,'' the coach said. "It's a testament to the kids that bought into the program. We're right on track with our goals to have it.''
