Sachem North Opens Conference Schedule with Rout of Middle Country

Sachem North continued its offensive prowess in its conference opener Wednesday afternoon.

After pummeling North Carolina's Weddington High down south last week, the Arrows looked spot on in a 17-4 thrashing of Middle Country at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium. Sachem has now scored 39 goals in its first two games.

“We worked the ball real well,” said junior attackman Dalton Crossan, who had a game-high six goals for Sachem (2-0). “Everybody was doing their job and when the openings came, we finished our plays. We have a great offense, so many weapons.”

The win marked the second time in the modern era that Sachem has scored 16-plus goals in back-to-back games. The Arrows scored 16 and 17 against Virginia’s Battlefield and Longwood, respectively, in 2008. 

Middle Country (0-1) stuck with Sachem in the first quarter, trailing 3-2 and recording offensive production from Joe Olazagasti and Connor Boesch, who each scored 1:30 apart to tie the game at 2. 

The Arrows, however, locked down Middle Country and scored nine unanswered goals from the end of the first quarter until late in the third. Sachem shut them out in the second quarter and led 6-2 at the half.

Crossan and senior midfielder Brandon Gamblin opened the third quarter with two goals each and the game was out of reach for Middle Country once it reached the 12-3 mark later in the quarter.

Sachem's defense, while strong for the length of the contest, was not tested completely. Alex Harris, Jesse Scanna, George Raum, Paul Coppolla, Nick Iannello and Tyler Andreassi each covered their portions of the field with ease.

Sachem’s second and third lines rattled off another four goals in the fourth. Kyle Rhatigan scored two for Sachem during that stretch. 

Michael Andreassi finished with a goal and two assists like last game. His presence on the field has evolved from last season. With a plethora of scoring threats up top, he’s been able to dish the ball out and use his improved field vision to make many plays go in Sachem’s favor. 

“He’s not going to be the guy that holds onto the ball,” Sachem head coach Jay Mauro said. “He’s developed another aspect of his game from playing at the high level that he did at Empires. He’s able to distribute the ball and he did a great job today.”

The Arrows host Syosset, Nassau’s second-ranked Conference I school, on Friday evening in a game to benefit cancer research and awareness. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center will have a table at the game and players on both teams will be wearing pink socks, armbands and shoelaces donated by Olympic Den.

News & Notes

• Senior Jake Cabble is out for the season with a torn ACL. The Robert Morris-bound product tore his other ACL prior to the football season in the fall. It was a heartbreaking loss for him and the team. His teammates wrote his jersey No. 7 on their legs to support him during Wednesday’s win. “It’s tough,” Mauro said. “It’s very emotional for everyone involved.”
• Stony Brook University assistant lacrosse coach Ryan Wellner was at the game to scout Eric Talbot and other players, as well as keep an eye on recruit Alex Harris, who will attend the university next year.
• Gerald Logan and Tim Matos combined for eight saves in net.
• Don't forget to vote for Sachem alum Anthony Iannello in the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award competition. Click here to submit your vote.

Sachem: Dalton Crossan (6g), Brandon Gamblin (3g, 2a), Cody Petillo (2g, 1a), Jack Gannon (1g, 3a), Michael Andreassi (1g, 2a), Kyle Rhatigan (2g), Shane deBoer (g), Tim Lang (3a), Corey Gamblin (1a). Saves: Gerald Logan 4 and Timmy Matos 4.

Middle Country: Tyler Meigel (1g, 1a), Tom Telesca (1g), Joe Olazagasti (1g), Connor Boesch (1g, 1a) Chris Stemke (1a). Saves: Brandon DaSilva: 7, Ryan Weldon: 2, and Steve Westhoff: 1.