By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 6/21/13
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. – Nassau County’s Griffin Miller (Calhoun) made his 11th save of the game with 27 seconds left, sealing an 11-10 victory over Suffolk County in the Rising Juniors game Thursday at the Long Island Showcase at St. Joseph’s College.
“On the last save I was really nervous,” said Miller. “I looked at the clock, and I knew if I made this save the game would be over.
“The player came in one on one and faked high, faked low and took the shot I stuck my foot out and barely got it with my toe. It was a heads up lacrosse play.”
The LI Showcase featured All-Star Games for three classes (2014, 2015 and 2016). Players were chosen forma series of tryouts in both Long Island counties. In the Rising Sophomores game, Suffolk won, 10-6; in the Rising Seniors game, Suffolk prevailed, 14-8.
“Towards the end of the game I started to get the feel for them,” said Miller. “I knew where they were shooting and I felt it. We bonded as a team, this was great and I hope I’m back next year.”
Nassau jumped to an 8-3 lead with 53.8 left in the first half of the Rising Juniors game and Suffolk answered with two quick goals before intermission. Suffolk then tied it, 8-8, before Alex Concannon (Syosset) scored two goals to give Nassau a 10-8 lead with 7:55 left in the game.
Suffolk scored two goals within 30 seconds to tie it, but with 4:58 left Paul Dilena (Massapequa) found Nick Spillane (Carey) for the go ahead goal. Spillane tallied four goals and two assists, while Gordon Purdie (Lynbrook) added two goals and two assists for Nassau.
Ryan Bray (Shoreham-Wading River) tallied two goals and two assists and Brian Willets (Smithtown East) scored two goals for Suffolk. Suffolk won 18 of the 24 face-offs.
“I think this is the first time in Long Island showcase history that we came out with a win for Nassau in the Rising Juniors game,” said Spillane. “I just wanted to come out, play hard and leave everything on the field.
“Most of us play together on summer teams so everyone knows each other and our team chemistry grew over the past few days. It feels great to come out with the win.”
In the rising sophomores game Suffolk jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held Nassau scoreless in the first quarter.
“This is a great game and a great win to beat Nassau,” said East Islip’s Jack Hannigan, who had two goals and two assists for Suffolk. “It’s a good rivalry and it feels nice to win this game. It’s a lot of fun playing in this game because we all know each.
“We play in the same county so it’s fun getting to play together. I kept getting nice feeds from the attackmen and (I had) open shots.”
Dylan Rhatigan (Sachem North) tallied two goals and one assist for Suffolk. Matthew Deluca (Farmingdale) grabbed seven saves for Nassau.
“I thought we played well and worked the ball well,” said Rhatigan. “It’s been an honor to get selected to this team and to get to play with these guys. This feels great getting the win over Nassau County.”
In the Seniors Game, Ryan Keenan (Smithtown West) had three goals and two assists for Suffolk.
“This is an all-star game I was just trying to come out here and play my best for college coaches,” said Keenan, “The Suffolk County coaches picked me and the rest of these guys for a reason – to come out here and win this game!
“This feels good. We lost to Nassau my rising sophomore year and won my rising juniors year and it’s great knowing that I ended my Nassau vs. Suffolk games with a win.”
Rising juniors
Nassau County 11, Suffolk County 10
Nassau: 6-2-0-3-11
Suffolk: 2-3-3-2-10
N: Nick Spillane 4G, 2A; Gordon Purdie 2G, 2A; Alex Concannon 2G, 1A; Paul Dilena 1G, 1A; Kyle Brattan 1G; Griffin Barnathan 1G; Owen Daly 1A; Christopher Parler 1A
S: Ryan Bray 2G, 2A; Brian Willetts 2G; Alex Borja 1G; Jake Buonaiuto 1G; Austin Henningsen 1G; Jake McCulloch 1G; Jack Sullivan 1G; Thomas Tiernan 1G; Rocco Sutherland 1A; James Gerdvil 1A; Daniel Bucaro 1A
Saves: Griffin Miller (S) 11; Ryland Frost (S) 4; John Roca (N) 5; Sean Sconone (N) 5
Rising Sophomores
Suffolk County 10, Nassau County 6
Suffolk: 4-2-3-1-10
Nassau: 0-2-2-2-6
S: Jack Hannigan 2G, 2A; Dylan Rhatigan 2G, 1A; John Tabert 1G, 1A; Jake Weinman 1G; Thomas Haun 1G; Chris Forsberg 1G; Riley Forte 1G; Gerard Arceri 1G; Conor Smith 3A; Daniel Rooney 1A
N: Mac O’Keefe 1G, 1A; Tommy McPartland 1G; Joe Madsen 1G; Ryan Tierney 1G; Riley Cox 1G; Timothy Schmelzinger 1G; Luke McDaid 2A
Saves: Shane Brennan (S) 6; Jacob Giacalone (S) 5; Matthew Deluca (N) 7; Gavin Tam (N) 4
Rising Seniors
Suffolk 5-3-3-3- 14
Nassau 0-5-2-1- 8
Suffolk: Brian Cannon 2g Evan Gagne 2g 1a Ryan Hubbard 2g Ryan Keenan 3g 2a Patrick Kenneally 1g Michael Moynihan 2g Nicholas Santorelli 2g Kevin Ward 1a Zach Wolfe 1a
Nassau: Chris Brown 3g Patrick McCormick 3g Kyle Cain 1g 2a Joe Grossi 1g Craig Berge 1a Thomas McAndrew 1a
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