The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B semifinal between Yorktown and Manhasset at Middletown High School on June 11 was simply a dream matchup.
Yorktown, winners of seven state titles, entered the game ranked No. 5 in the state Class B poll, with Manhasset, winners of six state titles, ranked No. 2.
The two teams played a game that lived up to those lofty numbers, with Manhasset holding on for a 12-11 victory in a classic.
Brady Sheridan (3G, 1A) put Yorktown up 1-0 when his shot found the top right side of the cage 1:48 into the game.
“I got the ball from Gianluca (Marchini, 1G) and I had space to dodge,” Sheridan said. “I went down the lefty alley and was able to get my hands free for a shot. I think it felt good for the team to get on the board first and help ease some nerves.”
Manhasset scored five of the next seven goals to lead 5-3 at halftime, but goals by Yorktown’s Frank Ofrias (3G) and Aidan Concannon (2G, 1A) 1:59 into the second half tied the game at 5-5.
“To tie up the game felt great,” Ofrias said. “As I said last time, Aidan Concannon played lights out against Cornwall (in the regional final) and he followed it up with a great performance today. All game long we were trying to get the momentum to shift to us as the hot weather was beating both teams up.”
After the two teams exchanged goals, Ofrias scored to give Yorktown a 7-6 lead.
“Today we were moving the ball very well,” Ofrias said. “We were pushing the ball in transition which was something we did well all season long and I was able to bury a step down from a pass from Tommy Carney. It was a great momentum shift in the game and it felt great.”
Manhasset tied the game at 7-7 with 5:53 remaining in the third quarter.
Yorktown retook the lead when its defense forced a turnover, leading to Tommy Carney (2A) finding his cousin JT Carney (2G) in front of the goal and JT put it home, giving the Huskers a 8-7 advantage. Manhasset answered with just 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter, to knot the game at 8-8.
Manhasset scored the first three goals of the final stanza, but JT Carney responded by finishing off a transition conversion by scoring on the crease, cutting Manhasset’s advantage to 11-9 with 7:15 to go in the game.
Manhasset scored to go up 12-9, then Sheridan scored twice, the second with 3:59 remaining, slicing Manhasset’s lead to 12-11.
“It came off of an all-around team effort,” Sheridan said of his second goal in that stretch. “Numerous guys were dodging and moving it to the backside for re-dodges. I was able to get the ball from Aidan and get to my strong hand over the top. At that point in the game, it felt like we had to push it a little because we needed to make up some ground and the shot clock was getting low.”
With 24 seconds remaining, Yorktown had one final possession but Manhasset defended it well and held on for the victory.
Hunter Mezzatesta made 16 saves for Yorktown (16-5).
Sheridan, a senior, has been on varsity a little more than three years since being pulled up as a freshman.
“This program has meant the world to me and has been a brotherhood that I am proud to be a part of,” Sheridan said. “To play at a program with as much history as Yorktown was a really special experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’m so grateful for the opportunities this program has given me.”
For Ofrias, a junior who has been on the team since his freshman year, he has one more shot at playing for Yorktown’s eighth state title.
“As this season wraps up, us juniors and underclassmen will remember this game come next season, the work will start in the summer as everyone plays with their clubs and continues to develop their stick skills and their overall game,” Ofrias said. “We will continue to work throughout all months of the year until next season comes. And next year we have one goal in mind, the state championship.”
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