By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 6/5/13
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.- Reserve Dale Stasco scored his only goal with two seconds left to play as Garden City claimed a thrilling 10-9 victory today over undefeated Niskayuna in a New York State Class B boys’ lacrosse semifinal game at Marist College.
The win vaults the defending state champion Trojans (18-3) into Saturday’s title game vs. Jamesville-DeWitt Saturday at St. John Fisher College in Rochester at 11 a.m.
Garden City is the defending national champion, but entered play ranked No. 19 by TopLaxRecruits.com. Niskayuna (21-1) was ranked No. 2 and was averaging 17 goals a game.
Cody George (three goals, two assists) assisted on the game-winner by Stasco, a goal that came after Garden City took over possession with just over two minutes remaining. After winding down the clock, the Trojans ran a play after calling time out with 11 seconds left as Justin Guterding (two goals, four assists) ran behind the cage and passed to George, who then fed Stasco.
“This feels amazing to get back to the state finals again,” said George. “The last play was set up for me to take the shot, but when I got the ball they rushed me and Dale stepped in the middle wide open.
“So I passed it to him and he made the shot. After this win we feel confident going forward. We are playing great and we want to win it all again.”
Garden City jumped to a 5-0 lead to start the game, the Silver Warriors responded and pulled within 6-5 at halftime. Niskayuna kept the momentum in the third quarter as Luke Goldstock tied it and then fed Michael D’Amario for the lead.
Jack Worstell tied it for Garden City and two minutes later Guterding found George and the Trojans had an 8-7 lead. Niskayuna answered with a goal by D’Amario and two minutes later Ryan Lawson’s goal put the Silver Warriors up by one with 6:52 left in the game.
Guterding tied it off a pass from George with 4:14 remaining.
“This is (our) best win so far,” said Guterding. “The seniors worked hard for this. This is special; only one more game to go.
“We feel confident going forward. We were the underdogs in this game and to come out and defeat an undefeated team is a great feeling.”
Justin Guterding had two goals and four assists and Jack Worstell tallied two goals for Garden City.
D’Amario tallied four goals and Goldstock scored three goals and two assists for Niskayuna.
“Garden City is a great team,” said Niskayuna head coach Mike Vorgang. “You can’t take anything away from them. They are the defending state champs. They had the ball at the end and made the shot. My kids had a great season and just came up short today.”
Garden City fell to Jamesville-DeWitt (20-1, ranked No. 11) in the 2011 state title game, 8-7 in overtime, and also, 11-5, in the 2010 state finals.
“This is great, I’m happy for my seniors,” said Garden City coach Steven Finnell. “They held a high scoring Niskayuna team to single digits, which no one has been able to do all season.
“Niskayuna is a great team with a great offense and we were able to hold them scoreless in the first quarter. I’m proud of my guys; they did what was asked of them and they played great.”
Garden City 10, Niskayuna 9
Garden City: 5-1-2-2-10
Niskayuna: 0-5-2-2-9
GC: Cody George 3G, 2A; Justin Guterding 2G, 4A; Jack Worstell 2G; Lucas Clay 1G; Tim McDonagh 1G; Dale Stasco 1G; Jack Metzler 1A
N: Michael D’Amario 4G; Luke Goldstock 3G, 2A; Ryan Lawson 1G, 1A; John Prendergast 1G; Tyler Pantalone 1A
Saves: Dan Dolan (GC) 5; Evan Quinn (N) 7
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