Boys lacrosse: Scarsdale takes a breath, moves on to NYSPHSAA semifinals
LATHAM – It only took one goal.
For the first time during this unprecedented run, Scarsdale was nervous in the opening minutes. It took nearly 10 minutes for the Raiders to settle in. And when Jacob Goldstein found the back of the net in the closing minutes of a bumpy first quarter, the mojo returned.
The second goal came 35 seconds later.
And with the offense in gear, Scarsdale raced to a 14-6 win over Shenendehowa in an NYSPHSAA Class A regional final on Saturday at Latham High School.
“It was a little different being out there,” said attackman Ryan Ornstein, who gave the Raiders a 2-1 edge after one. “We had some nerves at the beginning, then I think we picked it up and played our kind of lacrosse, together lacrosse. … Once that first one goes in, you get a little happy and you get a little motivated.”
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Scarsdale coach James Synowiez burned a timeout with 7:11 gone to settle and reset.
“We took a few deep breaths,” he said. “We worked on some breathing techniques this morning and told them to enjoy the moment and it worked, so I’m happy about that. We definitely needed that timeout after they popped one in quick.”
Having a faceoff ace helps the Raiders play through a lot of issues.
“A slow start is never something we want, but we have Colby Baldwin,” Scarsdale attackman Grayden Diamond said. “We know we’re going to get almost every possession and we know our game plan is always going to work out for us if we run it right.”
Ornstein sent the Raiders into the second half with an 8-2 lead when he legged in for a goal 9.8 seconds before the intermission.
What it means
Andrew Lehrman is going to need a lot of ice.
The junior goalie went down with 1:25 to go in the first half when a shot worked its way underneath his chest protector. Nico Dowdall came on the finish up. Lehrmen got checked out and was on the field in the second half, but that ball definitely left a mark.
“Andrew is a tough guy and we need him,” Ornstein said. “He’s a really important part of this team, but we have backups. Nico came in and made a tough save at the end of the second quarter, and then Andrew came back in. Tough kid.”
Player of the game
Baldwin is always the difference in big games. He went 21-2 on faceoffs.
By the numbers
Scarsdale (14-7): Ornstein piled up five goals. ... Goldstein finished with three goals and two assists. ... Nate Seslowe netted a pair of goals. ... Diamond had a goal and two assists. ... Baldwin, Rhett Needleman and Wade Massey each scored once. ... Lehrman made 14 saves.
Shenendehowa (15-4): Drew Canterbury had three goals. ... Mason Carroll and Colin Bullock each had one goal. ... Nathan Wolfe had a pair of assists.
Quotable
"I want to say yes, but no, they don’t surprise me," Synowiez said. "Even watching film in the hotel this morning, they have a confidence about them and they go out there and back it up. When we were 2-6 that wasn’t the case. We’ve been through a gauntlet of a schedule. We’ve seen the highs and seen the lows. When we’re in those (pressure) situations now, ‘It’s hey guys, take a breath, relax. We’ve been here before. We know what to do.’"
Up next
Scarsdale plays the Long Island champion Northport in the East Championship at 4 p.m. at SUNY Albany's Ford Stadium.
Mike Dougherty covers boys soccer, boys lacrosse, girls basketball and golf for The Journal News/lohud.com. He can be reached at mdougher@lohud.com, or on Twitter @hoopsmbd, @lohudlacrosse, @lohudhoopsmbd and @lohudgolf.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Boys lacrosse: Scarsdale beats Shenendehowa 14-6 in NYSPHSAA regional
