War on the Shore LC defeats Grey Dogs 8-5 with dominant 2nd Half: Avenges First Session Loss!

Holbrook, NY--Led by two goals and an assist in the second half from James Sgiugna, War on The Shore LC rattled off 6 straight goals, erasing a 3-2 halftime deficit to roll past Grey Dogs 8-5 last night in lax action at the Holbrook PAL Complex.

Sgiugna who continues his excellent midfield play from the Greenport Tournament, where he played for Typhoon Lacrosse, got things going early in the second half with a bull dodge from the top of the restraining box in the middle of the field, ripping a stick-side low shot that the goalie didn't even see.  Next offensive set, off of a pick and roll, he ripped his second G, upper right corner, from a step inside the restraining box pulling his team ahead  4-3 with what would turn out to be the turning point in the contest.   Minutes later in transition, Sgiugna threaded the needle through an over aggressive Grey Dogs defense, finding a War on the Shore attackmen cutting back door in front of the crease for an assist increasing the lead to 5-4. 

With only one substitute the entire game, and momentum on their side, War on the Shore implemented a slow down offense.  Working the ball around several times on each offensive possession, they showed poise and patience, taking what the defense game them rather than forcing things.  The strategy seemed to work, wearing down the Grey Dogs defense, creating mismatches on offense, giving their own defense a rest, but most importantly running precious time off the clock. 

With fresh legs at midfield, War on the Shore dominated in the transition game. Clearing, riding, scooping up ground balls, and dominating face-offs deep into the second half.  Scottie " Fitzie" Fitzgerald played an outstanding game at defensive middie and was the catalyst for goals 6 and 7 that put his team firmly in the lead.  Fitzgerald, a former Naval Officer at Annapolis, who is often criticized by fellow teammates for playing soft, silenced his critics with excellent open field stick checks, and scooping up 5 ground balls. Two of those groundballs led to the aforementioned goals.

After losing the majority of the face-offs in the first half, War on the Shore turned things around in the second half winning over 90%.  "The face-offs were they key to the slow strategy.  The enabled us to maintain possession and the lead", exclaimed War on the Shore attackman Steve 'Braveheart' Maloney.

With another quick goal of of the face-off with 3:30 left to play War on the Shore went up 8-3.

 Grey Dogs did not lay down to die. They managed to pump in 2 goals in the final 2 minutes of the game in attempts to stage a comeback which eventually fell short.

War on the Shore goaltender Brian Buckley of Holy Cross fame continued to show why he is the team's MVP.  Buckley kept his team in the game early and often, bailing out his defense on missed communications and poor transition plays. He held off Grey Dogs until his team's offense finally started rolling.  Buckley, a man of few words, sporting the professorial beard, had 14 saves on the night. He also did a great job of hitting his outlets in the clearing game.

Other notes:  Bryan Davis scored the first goal of the game despite back spasms which forced him to leave the game early during the beginning of the second half.  Steve "Braveheart" Maloney (Marist '90) started at X in the place of "Broadway" Brett Jeffares.  Maloney was the impetus behind the first two goals of the game for War on the Shore.  His contributions were a major factor in the victory.

War on the Shore is now 1-1 on the season.  Grey Dogs drops to 0-2.



Other News.....
Landsharks White defeated SCPD by a score of 8-2.  Goaltender Rob Serratore (Stony Brook '91, Comsewogue '87) was a good as Kevlar against Suffolk's Finest.  LI Lax Blog couldn't believe the final score.  Showing up late to the field, we didn't know who was in goal for the Landsharks.  We asked ourselves, "How could Landsharks beat SCPD this badly?"   Serratore took his helmet off to shake hands with the other team and that explained it.

Checkmate Orange dumps Lily Flanigans (Again!) 10-3

Holtsville, NY--Thanks to a Gregg Giampaolo hat-trick, Checkmate Orange continued its dominance over a struggling Lily Flanigan's squad. Lily drops to 0-1 on the season, but has struggled over the last five weeks going 1-5 during that stretch and losing their last five games (including the 1st summer session). Checkmate Orange (1-0)hasn't dropped a game since the 2nd week of May when the now defunct Rhinos handed them a 6-4 loss during that same 1st summer session.

Next up for Lily Flanigans is rematch with GreyDogz on 7/16. While Checkmate Orange faces off against Brunos on 7/17.

Tonights Games.....

Pro Lacrosse
LI Lizards vs. Boston Cannons 7pm at Shuart Stadium in Uniondale, NY
Prediction : Lizards 12 Cannons 8

Club Lacrosse
Land Sharks White vs. Grey Dogz 9pm at PAL Complex in Hotlsville, NY
Prediction: Sharks 9 Dogz 4

Lily Flanigans vs. Checkamte Orange 10pm at PAL Complex in Holtsville, NY
Prediction: Flanigans 11 Checkmate 10

Rhino's get Sh_t -Faced!; fall to 2-2 on the season

Ronkonkoma, NY--In a see-saw battle that included a dozen lead changes, Schlitz Faced managed to sustain a late game rally to win the game 24-18. Schlitz Faced pulled away in the last six minutes of play and out-hustled the Rhinos in transition and on ground balls.

The Rhinos resorted to sloppy play that we haven't seen since the Winter '08 season at CIS. Hat's off to The Schlitz's defense. Their effort contributed to many Rhino turnovers, which included man-up possessions for the Rhinos.

Schlitz Faced made it look easy at times moving the rock up field and finding the open man.

The Rhinos wasted spectacular efforts by goalie Buckley and Mr. Amplo on defense. Amplo also scored a hatrick on the evening.

The Rhinos can salvage their season in part to a soft schedule the rest of the way. The remaining three games are against the respective doormats of the league: Jester's, Checkmate Black, and Remnants.

Next up for Schlitz Faced is Grey Dogs, followed by Checkmate Orange and Jester's.