Total team effort earns Northport boys lacrosse a win over Bay Shore
Michael Meyer of Northport works his way past the Bayshore defense during a Suffolk Division I lacrosse game on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 in Bayshore. Credit: Dawn McCormick
When Andrew Miller scored the opening goal for Northport just 13 seconds into Wednesday's boys lacrosse game it took Bay Shore only two minutes to answer.
It’s been a theme so far this year in Suffolk I, as early season parity has produced a few surprising upsets and a lot of close games.
This one was no different as Northport jumped in front with four consecutive goals in the second and third quarter after trailing early to hang on and defeat host Bay Shore, 6-4.
“Every game is going to be a dog fight and all the teams are pretty equal,” Northport’s Mike Meyer said. “It’s going to be a battle.”
Meyer scored off an assist from Tim Kirchner early in the second to tie it at 3 and Kirchner found the cutting Jack Helrigel for the go-ahead goal just before halftime to give the Tigers a lead they would not relinquish.
“Our defense did great today,” said Kirchner, who had three assists, “It was important for us to capitalize on our chances and hold onto the ball and get good shots.”
Northport (4-0) has been able to control the ball this season because of faceoff man Tyler Kuprianchik, who once again did his job, winning 12 of 14 faceoffs.
Kuprianchik was pivotal in helping the Tigers hold off a late push from Bay Shore (2-2) after Northport won the faceoff to begin the fourth quarter and controlled possession for nearly seven minutes while holding a 6-3 lead.
“Our defense really held us in it,” Meyer said. “We knew we had to take advantage when we could.”
Both goalies made key saves throughout. Bay Shore’s Nicky West had eight saves and Northport’s Luke LaMendola had seven.
Meyer scored his second of the game and the sixth for Northport on an assist from Kirchner with 8:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Northport is one of only three teams who have yet to lose a Division I game and every team has at least one loss overall.
“This is one of the toughest leagues in the country,” coach Larry Cerasi said. “We know that every team is talented. We have returners [from last season’s Long Island champion team] but we’re also depending on some young guys so these early games against high quality teams really help us learn a lot.”
And as the defending Long Island Class A champion they know they’ll be getting every team's best shot going forward.
“We try not to think about it because this is a new year but we know we have a target on our heads,” Meyer said. “We’re willing to accept that challenge.”
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
