Sports

Wantagh Boys Lacrosse Rolls to Semifinals

Warriors blow past Carey 19-5 to set up a rematch of last year's semifinal loss to Manhasset.

For the first 16 minutes of Wantagh’s Nassau County Class B quarterfinal boys lacrosse game Thursday, Carey was hanging right with the number two seed trailing only 5-3 before the Warriors showed why they are title contenders in 2012.

A Mike Fitzpatrick transition goal of a faceoff win with 7:46 left in the second quarter started a 10-0 run en route to a 19-5 victory at Hofstra University Soccer Stadium that sends Wantagh (14-3) into the semifinals this Tuesday. Fitzpatrick was 18-22 on faceoffs in his three quarters of work to help Wantagh dominate time of possession.

“He is one of the best in the county,” said Wantagh senior midfielder Joe Giardina of Fitzpatrick’s dominance all year on faceoffs.

Find out what's happening in Wantagh-Seafordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fitzpatrick was one of 10 Warrior goal scorers Thursday led by four apiece from seniors Brian von Bargen and Matt Balzano, who are committed to play at college lacrosse powers Hofstra and UMass, respectively. Corey Stavis was also an offensive weapon scoring three goals and registering two assists.

The next roadblock to Wantagh’s goal of winning a county title is Manhasset (12-4), who easily dispatched Bethpage in Thursday’s other semifinal at Hofstra. Manhasset in last year's county semifinals, 10-7, creating even more motivation for the 2012 team to advance farther in the postseason.  

Find out what's happening in Wantagh-Seafordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"From day one our goal was to become champions,"said Giardina, who is one of Wantagh’s senior captains. "We are making the playoff push to the best of our ability." 

The Wantagh-Manhasset semifinal game is scheduled to faceoff on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. 

 

 

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here