Mahopac Ousted in Semifinals

MAHOPAC—After upsetting White Plains in the opening round of the Class A playoffs, the Mahopac High boys lacrosse team came up short in its bid for back to back upsets with Thursday's loss to Lakeland-Panas. The Indians (11-7, 3-2) went on the road to upset the fourth seed Tigers (11-6) 17-7, before losing 14-8 to top seeded Lakeland-Panas (15-3).

Mahopac's Kevin Carey scored on this shot against Lakeland/Panas in last week's Class A semifinal. Skip Pearlman “It started out okay,” coach Mike Haddeland said. “But then they went on their run, they just dominated time of possession, they did a great job controlling the middle of the field.”

At the end of the first quarter the two teams were tied at three, Lakeland used their first run of the game to take a 10-5 lead into the third quarter. The Indians scored early in the third to cut the lead to four, but Lakeland controlled the ball and went on another run to put the game away.

Okie Bernabo uncorks a shot against L/P. Skip Pearlman “We were kind of disappointed in our wing play,” Haddeland said. “Even when we came up with the ball, their kids knocked the stick out of our kids' hand. Their kid Shawn Honovich, every time we had the ball he would trail behind and knock it out, it was frustrating to watch.”

TJ Foley led the Indians with three goals, while Kevin Carey and John Brandofino scored two goals each. Chase Thompson had two assists.

Johnny McGuigan made the start in net and finished with eight saves, while Lakeland's Robert Belger finished with nine.

Before their loss to Lakeland, the Indians pulled off a come from behind victory over White Plains. After trailing 5-3 at the half, the Indians outscored the Tigers 14-2 to pull away with a convincing win.

“I think they only had two or three possessions in the second half,” Haddeland said. “It was pretty much utter dominance. I've been a part of many lacrosse games and I haven't seen anything like this in a long time. The guys were really fired up, I think a lot of the seniors stepped up and didn't want this to be their last game.”

TJ Foley of Mahopac had a hat-trick in a semifinal loss to Lakeland/Panas. Skip Pearlman Jon Bota led the charge offensively with six goals. Okie Bernabo scored four times and assisted on two others, Foley scored three and added an assist and Brandofino scored twice and assisted on three others.

McGuigan finished with 11 saves.