Seahawks Soar To State Championships

Facebook photo/CSH Athletics “A Commitment to Excellence”
The Cold Spring Harbor boys lacrosse team is pictured after winning its third consecutive Long Island Class C Championship title last weekend.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

The Seahawks fought through their toughest competition of the season Wednesday night to claim a bid at their third straight state championship.

“We hadn’t been in a close game like this in a long, long time,” Bonn said of the 9-6 win over upstate Pleasantville in the state semifinals.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Seahawks found themselves in an unusual position. They were losing. Cold Spring Harbor trailed the Panthers 2-0, but senior attacker Ian Laviano changed that with a goal to get the Seahawks on the the scoreboard.

The score remained the same until there was just over 5 minutes remaining, when senior middie Matt Licciardi tied the game. Seconds after, senior attacker Will Reed put the Seahawks ahead, 3-2.

The Panthers tied up the game in the third quarter, but Cold Spring Harbor junior attacker Kevin Winkoff scored two goals in seven seconds to push the Seahawks ahead, 5-3.

With 10 minutes left in the game, Laviano scored his second goal of the game to keep the Panthers at bay. Cold Spring Harbor ultimately held on for the win.

“I was very proud of how our kids kept their composure, and kept playing,” Bonn said. “They didn’t roll over when things weren’t in our favor. It was a tremendous game.”

Winkoff finished the day with three goals and one assist; Laviano with two goals and one assist; Licciardi with two goals; and Reed with one goal and one assist. Senior middie Taylor Strough, meanwhile, scored once and junior middie Teddy Bentley had two assists.

Junior goaltender Chris Porzelt made 13 saves to preserve the win. Bonn said Porzelt played outstanding.

This game follows last Saturday’s Long Island Class C championship game, where the Seahawks took its third consecutive Long Island Class C title with a 16-7 victory over Shoreham-Wading River.

The Seahawks improved to 20-0 on the season and have won 27 games straight dating back to last season.

They’ll next face Jamesville-DeWitt in the state Class C championship game, slated for Saturday, 3 p.m. at St. John Fisher College in Rochester.