The Manhasset boys lacrosse team relinquished the Wood Stick trophy on Saturday in its annual bout with perennial powerhouse Garden City, falling to the Trojans 9-8 in the 125th meeting between the rival programs.
The Indians – who topped Garden City in last year’s match – trailed by two, three and four goals in the first half but came roaring back on the road to cut a 7-3 halftime deficit to within one late in the fourth quarter.
“It hurts. There’s a lot of pride and tradition in this one,” said Manhasset head coach Bill Cherry. “It’s one thing to give [the Wood Stick trophy] back and know you didn’t give them your best shot, but when you come from behind 7-3, it shows you gave them a fight.”
Manhasset, in the midst of an uncharacteristically middling season at 7-7, is now 68-57 all-time in the Wood Stick Classic. Garden City (11-2) has won 18 of the last 23 meetings with the Indians.
“This is a big matchup between two very similar communities, two outstanding schools with outstanding students,” Cherry said. “The kids know each other from playing summer league together and growing up together, hanging out with each other. It’s a great rivalry. There’s nothing like it.”
The Trojans got on the board with 8:35 left in the first quarter on one of Cody George’s team-leading three goals, and a minute later Tim McDonagh cut through the teeth of the Manhasset defense and fired one past Indians goaltender John Young to put Garden City up 2-0.
Though Manhasset tied it early in the second, the Trojans answered back with two goals in 11 seconds. Kieran Byrnes and James Sullivan managed to find the back of the cage, and went up 7-3 with about 10 seconds in the half on another pair of quick goals.
Manhasset cut the lead to two midway through the third on goals from Tyler Dunn and James Farrell, and key defensive stops early in the fourth gave way to Dunn going up and under a Garden City defender and ripping a shot past Trojans goaltender Danny Dolan with 6:13 left for his second goal of the afternoon.
Just 1:23 later, Manhasset’s Matt Gavin scored on a rebound that Dolan could not corral to bring the Indians to within one, but Garden City held on for the win.
Dolan made 11 saves for the Trojans. Sullivan had two goals and an assist in the win.
Six Manhasset players had at least one goal. Dunn and Gavin led Manhasset with two goals apiece.
