Farmingdale Boys Lacrosse Win Nassau County Title Over Massapequa

The Farmingdale boys lacrosse team repeated as Nassau County Class A champions with a memorable win over Massapequa on Tuesday afternoon at Hofstra University.

The top-seeded Dalers (14-4) picked up the game-winning goal from Greg Catalano with 2:12 remaining in the final quarter against the second-seeded Chiefs (14-4) to win 15-13. 

Brian Prendergast led Farmingdale with four goals and three assists and Korey Hendrickson added four goals and an assist in the win. Jamie Shand put in five goals along with three assists in the season-ending loss for Massapequa.  

Farmingdale found the start to the first quarter that they were looking for, jumping out to a 3-1 lead, including two goals from Sal Tuttle. However, Massapequa scored four of the next five goals to turn the lead in their favor. Shand scored twice in the last 34 seconds to give the Chiefs a 5-4 advantage.  

Massapequa rallied off three more goals to start the second quarter before Catalano found the net again for Farmingdale with 5:53 remaining in the half. Dylan Sheehan and Tuttle traded goals for Massapequa and Farmingdale, respectively, in the final 15 seconds to end the half with the Chiefs holding onto a slim 9-7 lead. 

Prendergast cut the lead to 9-8 in the opening minutes, but Massapequa responded with consecutive goals from Ian Lukaszewicz and Luke Pellizzi to go ahead 11-8. Before the end of the third quarter, Hendrickson and Patrick Starke scored goals to pull Farmingdale to within one again at 11-10.   With Shand scoring on a man advantage, Farmingdale then made their move for a historic comeback.

Three goals in three minutes gave the Dalers their first lead since the first quarter at 13-12. Shand kept Massapequa in the game with his fifth goal to tie at 13-13.   Catalano then took a pass from Prendergast to put a shot past Massapequa goalie Joe Danaher for the go-ahead and championship-winning goal for Farmingdale.  

Heroes: Greg Catalano scored just twice for the Dalers, but his second was ultimately the biggest of what was an exciting Class A championship. Mike Palmer had a stellar game in goal for Farmingdale with seven saves.  

“Their goalie was playing outstanding the whole game, but we just needed to keep shooting," Catalano said. "This whole season, we have been working on mental toughness, so we prepare to outrun the other team, and that is just what we did." 

Turning Point: Farmingdale went on a run midway through the fourth quarter to take their first lead in over 35 minutes of game time.  

Quotable:  "I'm so proud of the fact that when they got down, nobody pointed fingers. They just kept battling back until the end," Farmingdale head coach Bob Hartranft said. "We are just thrilled to get back to the Long Island Championship again this year."

"We had a great year, but unfortunately it came down to not winning a County championship. That was a great game and they just came out on top," Massapequa head coach Tim Radomski said. "We have a great group of kids and I am really proud of what they have done."

Bottom Line: Massapequa defeated Farmingdale in overtime during the regular season, but Farmingdale got their redemption with the comeback win and their second defeat in a row of the Chiefs in the Nassau County Finals.  

Key Stat: Farmingdale doubled up Massapequa in the second half, outscoring them 8-4 en route to the win.  

Who’s Next: Farmingdale vs. Suffolk County Class A Champion, June 4, 2 p.m. (Stony Brook University)  

Box Score: 

Goals-Assists- M: Shand 5-3, Sheehan 3-2, Muller 2-0, Lawless 1-1, Pellizzi 1-0, Lukaszewicz 1-0, Kirby 0-1, Sellinger 0-1, Chiocco 0-1. Totals: 13-9. F: Prendergast 4-3, Hendrickson 4-1, Tuttle 3-2, Starke 2-1, Catalano 2-0, Perettine 0-1. Totals: 15-8. Goalies: M: Danaher- 9 saves; F: Palmer- 7 saves.