Poor second quarter costs North boys lax against OP

If Williamsville North is to win a boys lacrosse section title this spring, they will more than likely have to go through Orchard Park. And in the first, third and fourth quarters of the teams' meeting on Wednesday, May 9, the Spartans were able to execute the game plan well. It's the second quarter where North fell apart.

OP outshot the Spartans, 15-0, in the second quarter and outscored the Spartans, 8-0, en route to a 15-4 win.

"We were right there with them," said North coach Matt Smart. "If you take away the second quarter, we're only down 7-4. But in the second quarter, we tried to do our own thing on offense and defense, and it put us in a hole that we couldn't get out of. Until we beat them consistently, they will be the better team."

North was outshot, 55-19, and OP grabbed 48 ground balls to North's 30.

Rob Pekarski, Mike Jaszka, Joe Greenwald and Brent Rickan each scored once for North. Evan Bryant had two assists. Goalie Pat Stasio made 20 saves.

North dominated total shots and ground balls in its other two wins last week, a 15-6 victory at Lockport on Monday, May 7 and a 12-4 win at Williamsville South on Friday, May 11.

The Spartans outshot Lockport, 49-22, and South, 31-20, and picked up 48 ground balls to Lockport's 30 and 42 ground balls to South's 31.

North led Lockport, 6-3, at halftime but controlled the Lions in the second half, outscoring them 9-3.

Brent Rickan led North with six goals. Matt Dindurski scored four times and assisted on another. Jaszka (two goals, two assists) and Bryant (four assists) each had four points. Pat Mulvihill (goal, two assists), Nick Stalker and Greenwald (goal each), and Ryan Geary and Grant Rickan (assist each) also contributed to the offense. Greenwald scooped up 10 ground balls followed by Geary's eight.

North led South 4-3 at halftime but exploded for eight goals in the second half to the Billies' one. Bryant led North with a goal and four assists. Dindurski (two goals, two assists), Jaszka (two goals, assist), Brent Rickan (two goals), Rob Wilcox (two assists), and Stalker, Greenwald, and Geary (goal each) also contributed to the offense. Pekarski and Geary scooped up six ground balls each. Stasio made seven saves.

"Our ground balls and ride intensity fueled a great transition game and it was fun for the guys," said Smart. "It was a great way to start the Williamsville Cup."

North played at Frontier on Tuesday, May 15, but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They play at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 18 at West Seneca East and close out the regular season at Williamsville East at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22 as part of the Williamsville Cup.

"I hope our guys are starting to peak at the right time," said Smart. "When we play our game and stick to the game plan as a team, we can play with anybody. It will take mental and physical lacrosse each and every day for the guys to achieve what they deserve."

In another matter: North's game with West Seneca West, originally called in the fourth period on April 23 due to severe weather, was recently forfeited by WS West. North was ahead, 9-2, when the game was called.

Brent Rickan (three goals) and Bryant (goal, two assists) led the North offense with Stalker (two goals), Jaszka (goal, assist), Mulvihill (goal) and Greenwald (goal) also contributing.