Mustang Lacrosse Falters in Jericho Mud

A mixture of rain, sleet and injuries to key players added up to a tough day at the office – the playing field, that is – for the Mineola Mustangs boys lacrosse team Thursday afternoon at Jericho High School.

Playing without prominent middies Steven Napolitano and Tim Gill, the Mustangs were unable to gain control of the ball and set up an effective attack, allowing Jericho to dominate possession time and hand Mineola a 13-4 loss.

“We were playing beat up,” said coach Mike Perro after the game. “But I’m proud of the team – they kept their heads up.”

While the playing conditions were challenging and the injuries hampering, for much of the game it was the young Jayhawk team utilized crisp passing, intense ground ball pursuit and patient offense to stick it to Mineola.

The first quarter was played principally on the Mustang side of the field, and it was not until 10:58 in the second that Mineola got on the board with an assist from Nick Fabiano to Spencer Wolf for a goal.

However Jericho reeled off five straight goals in the next eight minutes, and it was only a solo effort from attack man Josh Lopes with 20 seconds on the clock that made it 7-2 at the half.

Mineola came out with some authority as the third quarter began, showing better aggressiveness and execution, holding Jericho to a single goal while adding one of their own from the stick of midfielder Brian Gaffney.

After swapping goals in the fourth with Fabiano scoring for Mineola, Perro pulled most of his starters – and as the game wound down, Jericho scored four more times and cruised to the 13-4 victory.

As lopsided as the win was, it could have been musch larger save for the determined play of Mustang goalie Matt Moro.

“Matty saw a lot of rubber,” Perro said, referring to the number of shots fired at him in four quarters.

And then some. In total, Moro notched 12 saves on the day – including at least a half dozen from point blank range.

“This is still early season lacrosse,” Perro said, waxing philosophic. “But lacrosse on Long Island is played at a high level. Game by game it’s going to get tougher.”

The Mustangs will have a chance to test that assessment April 5 when they travel to Glen Cove for a 4:15 p.m. match.