Wallkill boys advance to Class C final

By Bond Brungard
Posted 5/29/19

It may go down, for those who were there and watched every minute, one of the best lacrosse games they ever saw, as Wallkill’s boys’ lacrosse team battled Rondout Friday to advance to the …

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Wallkill boys advance to Class C final

Posted

It may go down, for those who were there and watched every minute, one of the best lacrosse games they ever saw, as Wallkill’s boys’ lacrosse team battled Rondout Friday to advance to the Section 9, Class C final this week.

The Panthers kept the Ganders at arm’s length for three quarters, leading 13-9 entering the fourth quarter. The Panthers led 14-11 after Alex Lewis scored with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter, but the Ganders came right back with three goals to tie it 14-14 when Eric Clearwater scored with 2:28 left until the end of regulation.

Rondout won their first meeting on their field 9-8 in overtime. After Clearwater scored, the tension grew as the minutes and seconds boiled down to another possible overtime finish.

But with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Wallkill’s Chad Castle drilled a shot into the net before the Panthers staved off the Ganders for the next half a minute to win the semifinal, 15-14.

“That was easily the craziest game we had a varsity team together this year,” said Lewis. “It was the biggest game of our season, and we pulled through, and did our best.”

Lewis and Ty Crowley each scored four goals for Wallkill. Alec MacDonald and David Goll each had a pair as Castle, Evan Hathaway and Marc Gagliardi each scored a goal in game that brought the fierce tenacity from both teams fitting for the playoffs.

And the regular season victory by the Ganders gave the Panthers fuel for revenge at the season’s most opportune time.

“We told ourselves we were a better team. We were going come out and do everything we can to win,” said Lewis. “And that’s what we did.”

Wallkill will play in the Section 9, Class C final at FDR in Hyde Park Wednesday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m.