Syosset, Port Washington ready for tight matchup in Nassau A final
Luca Accord of Syosset (left) and Ryan Fountain of Massapequa chase down the face off ball during a Nassau high school boys lacrosse game on Friday, May 13, 2022 in Syosset. Credit: Dawn McCormick
There was a common theme during the regular season anytime the top four boys lacrosse teams in Nassau A stepped on the field against each other.
Every game was decided by exactly one goal.
So, it was no surprise there was more of the same Thursday night when No. 4 Syosset defeated No. 1 Massapequa, 6-5, and No. 2 Port Washington knocked off No. 3 Farmingdale, 10-9, in the semifinals at Hofstra.
The winner will play in the final at Hofstra Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Syosset’s Luca Accardo made the biggest play of the night, scoring the winner in overtime after getting downhill and firing a shot on the run.
“Luca is a once in a lifetime player for a coach,” Syosset coach John Calabria said. “He's just a grinder. He's the most unselfish player and leads by example. In my 23 years, he’s one of a kind and someone every coach would want.”
Syosset didn’t score a goal in the first half and trailed 3-0 after 24 minutes.
“We were playing passive and nervous,” Calabria said. “In the second half we were more aggressive and we told them the only stat that’s going to matter is scoring more goals than them.”
Syosset scored three quick goals in the third quarter and early in the fourth, Accardo’s first goal gave Syosset a 5-4 lead. Massapequa’s Michael Durnin scored his third for Massapequa to force overtime.
Zach Finkelstein made 12 saves for Syosset and was another key reason why the team was able to pull out the win, according to Calabria.
“We need to just minimize mistakes in the next game,” Calabria said. “I truly believe the team that makes the least mistakes is going to wind up the winner.”
Port Washington had a close call of its own. The Vikings got an insurance goal from Luke Meyer to go up 10-8 with 1:17 remaining in the game, before Farmingdale’s Kyle Wilson scored with nine seconds left for the one goal margin.
“Before the game started I was walking around telling them to exhale,” Port Washington coach Isaac Neal said. “We've all been there in moments of our lives where our hearts are racing and we're breathing heavy. Once the aura of playing at Hofstra and playing in a big game wears off, you can settle in, rely on the fundamentals and just be in the moment.”
Henry Haberman had three goals and an assist and Meyer added two goals and an assist for Port Washington.
With every game being so close all season, both coaches know that every play is going to have a large impact on the outcome of the game.
“It’s going to come down to the simple pieces of lacrosse when the margins are so close,” Neal said. “It’s so important to be able to make that extra pass, make that extra play.”
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.
