Seahawks Repeat As State Champs
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Members of the Seahawks boys lacrosse team celebrate the Class ‘C’ state championship on Saturday.
From goaltender Devin Burdo, all the way up through the defensive line, middies and attackers, the Cold Spring Harbor boys lacrosse team was clicking Saturday during the Class ‘C’ state championship game, which ended with the Seahawks second consecutive state title.
Cold Spring Harbor defeated Penn Yan Academy 15-4.
“We all… had each other’s backs, and motivated each other,” said junior attacker Ian Laviano, who scored four goals in the game, and added one assist.
“We knew we had the skill, which prepared us really well. So it was just playing smart, making the right passes, possessing the ball, and playing our game: Cold Spring Harbor lacrosse.”
Coach Dennis Bonn said the first quarter of the game was all about getting into a rhythm.
“We fortunately came out flying, and I think it’s probably one of our best games of the year, hitting on all cylinders,” he said.
Coach added that the Seahawks become unstoppable when top players contribute.
“It was one of those games where whatever Penn Yan wanted to do, we had an answer for,” Bonn said.
Junior middie Matt Licciardi said he was nervous going into the game since the Seahawks were seeking back-to-back state championships.
“It was 1-1, at least to start out, and then once we kind of got into our rhythm we really started taking off there,” Licciardi, who had two goals and three assists in the game, said. “We were up by nine goals, and we decided to keep on pushing and go at them.”
Also contributing to the victory were sophomore attacker Kevin Winkoff, who scored three goals; junior middie Taylor Strough, who scored two goals and added an assist; senior captain Riley Cox, a middie, also scored a goal and had two assists; and junior attackers Will Reed and Kane Jaklitsch, and junior middie Sean Rush each added three goals to the scoreboard.
Junior long stick middie Matt DeGennaro also lifted Cold Spring Harbor with an assist. Burdo, a senior captain, saved six of the 11 shots he faced. Sophomore goaltender Chris Porzelt also made one save.
“I think the big problem for us over the course of the year was playing smart and I really thought we did that throughout the playoffs and that’s what helped us be successful,” Licciardi said. “Our coaches put us in positions to be great and I’m very thankful for that.”
The Seahawks complete their season with an 18-1 conference record, and, once again, as state champions.
Bonn said community members are already discussing a three-peat. Although it’s never easy, he believes the Seahawks have the talent to take another run at the state title.
Licciardi said, “It’s my last year so hopefully I go out there and give it my all, leave it all out on the field.
“This program has given me a lot and I appreciate that so hopefully me and my fellow teammates can go out and just do it one more time together and make it special,” he added.
Laviano said for his last season, he hopes the team will go undefeated, with the goal in mind to make it back to the state final.
“You want to be playing your best lacrosse come playoff time, and we happen to be doing that,” Bonn said. “It’s been a magical year and something I think everybody will remember for the rest of their lives, which is a wonderful memory.”
