The
Yorktown Huskers boys’ lacrosse team has made their money on rapid-fire third
quarter spurts.
Every game, the Huskers’ coaches and captains take every
millisecond of the intermission to dissect issues and implement new methods of
attack. The Huskers supply each other with motivational words, demand each
player hikes up the physicality a notch, and reminds them what they’re capable
of.
The
results?
During
Yorktown’s thorough 17-6 pasting of Mahopac, a game that was deadlocked at
4-all at the half, the Huskers reeled off a quick-strike third quarter 5-0
surge. It spurred a titanic second half explosion. Against nationally-ranked
Chaminade this Saturday, another third quarter onslaught emerged. The Huskers
ripped off five consecutive goals to seize a commanding 9-4 bulge en route to a
resounding 12-8 signature win.
“I
guess we’re just a second half team,” said Huskers defenseman Trevor Koelsch.
“It really has a lot to do with the halftime speeches. I mean it’s a great job
by the coaches, captains, and everyone really contributes.”
The
Huskers were not so much striving for national visibility as they were looking
to make a statement. They wanted to prove they could play with the “who’s who”
of the nation’s elite. Head coach Dave Marr and staff emphasized a full
throttle, four quarters performance. They knew, during a game of this
magnitude, every little play was going to be amplified.
Yorktown’s offensive
patience set the tone for the torrid (and it this point expected) third quarter
momentum rush.
The
Huskers’ were methodical in sharing the wealth, pegging cutters and creating
open looks. Everyone ate off the plate. Conor Vercruyesse, flushed into a
leadership role this season, spearheaded the Huskers with a team-best three
goals.
Brian
Presteau, who’s rapidly evolved into a scoring threat (he popped five goals in
the Mahopac win), bagged two goals. Luke Palmadesso added a pair of goals.
Nicky Bonitatibus drilled a goal and delivered an assist. It was as exemplary a
brand of team ball as the Huskers have displayed this season.
“Everyone
was involved in this win,” explained the Hopkins-bound Koelsch.
“Austin
Fusco was great between the lines and on clears. T-ROD (Tomas Rodriguez) had a
goal that was huge, (keeper) Austin Graham stood on his head for a couple of
goals. That was great. You can’t really pinpoint one player specifically and
give them credit, everyone pitched it. Danny Manning was excellent on face
offs.”
Defensively,
the Huskers collectively put the clamps on a team whose proclivity for backside
looks and shoving the ball in the crease drew Yorktown’s attention.
Koelsch
was assigned to shifty sniper Ryan Lukacovic, a heavily-rated Virginia-signee
who can get his shot off in blink-quick fashion. Lukacovic paced Chaminade with
three goals and two assists.
“I
just knew I had to stay on his hands,” explained Koelsch.“My goal was really
just to stay in front of him the whole time. I have to give a lot of credit to
the coaches and my teammates. The rest of the defense was a huge help at
handling slides.”
Presteau
darted past traffic and popped home a 5-4 ball that ignited the third quarter
spree. Palmadesso added insurance, scooping up a loose ball and storming to the
cage, ripping one past Dan Fowler (10 saves). Yorktown added on.
“We’ve
got a group of good, experienced players on this team and I think we just come
out for the second half more amped up,” said Husker senior Nick Mariano, who
scored a goal and doled out an assist.
“I
think it’s a matter of getting used to the goalie. With all the shots we put up
before the game and during the first half, we kind of have a better feel for
what we want to do when the third rolls around.”