Through the closing stretch of the 2010 regular season, the Liverpool boys lacrosse team did not display the same kind of verve, aggression and hunger it showed when it went to Baldwinsville and won 14-12 back on May 4.
Apparently, all that was required was a return to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium – and the extra intensity of the Section III Class A playoffs – to make things right.
As the no. 6 seed, the Warriors went to B’ville and, for the second time in less than a month, came out on top, this one a 10-9 decision in the Class A quarterfinals.
“These guys turned it up,” Liverpool head coach Jay Graham said. “Now if only we can carry that confidence into other games.”
At least there will be one more game, thanks to a diverse attack that featured an unlikely hero and a defense that had to make lots of stops down the stretch.
Joe Corapi picked a good time to earn a season-best total of four goals. Three of them came in the first half as the Warriors sped out in front, and the fourth, with 5:41 to play, proved to be the game-winner.
“Joe took advantage of a good (defensive) match-up,” Graham said. “He needed a game like this.”
Backing up Corapi, six different players – Matt DiMarco, Matt Savlov, Devin Clegg, Chris Spencer, Austin Hope and defenseman Brian Linger – earned the other six goals, a show of real diversity.
Meanwhile, the Warriors’ defense, led by Linger, Pat Brosnan and Bryan Capone, used physical play to frustrate B’ville, especially All-American Billy Ward, who did not get a goal until the fourth quarter.
Yet it was goalie Jamie Campagna that, in Graham’s words, “Was the difference.” All told, Campagna had 17 saves, cutting off angles and forcing B’ville to hit really good shots to beat him.
Liverpool took the lead for good late in the first quarter. From a three-goal deficit, the Bees closed within 6-5 at halftime, then rallied again in the final period after the Warriors extended its margin to 9-6 during the third quarter.
Only Corapi’s fourth goal provided an interruption as Ward found the net twice, the latter of them coming with exactly three minutes left to slice Liverpool’s 10-8 lead in half.
B’ville would get several chances to tie it in those last three minutes. Ward, Dom Darcangelo and Kyle Styler all had close-up looks. Every time, Campagna stuffed him, and the Warriors ran out the last minute with the ball, moving on to Tuesday’s Class A semifinals.
