John Jay lacrosse comes up short against Huskers

CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - On Saturday, April 5, a cold, rainy day still had John Jay come out hot against visiting Yorktown. 

Blake O’Callaghan short hopped Thomas Carney’s sidewinder in the opening seconds, and right back the other way, Dino Rajamani found the net at 10:40. The small crowd up in arms, the cheers unfortunately subsided the rest of the way.

Yorktown scored the next five goals and finished off the Wolves by a score of 6-2.

Still, Nicholas Rinaldi almost kept the momentum going at 8:17, but the post had other ideas. The ball kicking out to midfield, Yorktown set up, and ironically, Ryan Fastiggi made some noise too. Going strong overhead, he also hit the metal, but not enough to carry in the wrong direction.

Now tied at one with 7:35 left in the first, it was the Yorktown goalie’s turn to play the short hop and spark offense. Gavin Carvajal the victim, Hunter Mezzatesta then hit his middie on the run, and up the field, Aidan Concannon crossed the finish line to give the Huskers a 2-1 lead.

At 5:24. Yorktown took possession again, and the balls were flying by. That is until Gianluca Marchini was on target. One twirl of O’Callaghan’s stick maintained the status quo, though.

Unfortunately, the penalty whistle negated Wolf’s good work and put him on the firing line again. Marchini holding the pistol, he fired from the right, and Yorktown led 3-1 with 3:49 remaining.

Yorktown kept coming too, while O’Callaghan stayed put. He made three more big saves, and the score remained after one.

On to the second, Brendan Corelli got close. He whipped across his body on the right, and the laser sent Mezzatesta to his knees. From there, the goalie got a deflection, the ball kicked up, and the Husker then tipped the ball over the crossbar at 8:20.

Of course, O’Callaghan would get a chance to match his counterpart. Yorktown went on the man advantage at 2:53, and the John Jay goalie made three more big saves.

3-1 the score remained into the third and so did the strong goalie play for the Wolves. But the pressure eventually had its way. Fastiggi put a move around the defense, and with a little space, his whirlwind got the better of O'Callaghan.

In at 3:47, John Jay went into the fourth down three, and a turnover added another to the margin. James Tesi lost the ball on the goal line, and the Huskers went on the fast break. Finally coming to Brady Sheridan, he stopped, turned and fired for a 5-1 lead at 9:10.

John Jay did have a response, though, and it began with O’Callaghan. The senior thwarted a wraparound, and Corelli showed how it was done on the other end. He came from behind and unleashed across his body to get back within three at 6:16.

Unfortunately, Yorktown didn’t take long to answer.  With both teams scrambling for a loose ball, Frankie Ofrias got the scoop and hit an open James Carney in front of the goal. No chance for O’Callaghan, a four-goal lead it was at 5:53, and victory was assured for Yorktown.