Boys lacrosse: North Rockland earns a second chance with a big win over Fox Lane
Mike DoughertyTHIELLS – North Rockland is right where it wanted to be.
A humbling loss to Scarsdale nearly three weeks ago had the Red Raiders playing for a second chance and they earned it Friday, enthusiastically taking down Fox Lane by a 10-0 margin in a Section 1 Class A quarterfinal.
The defending champions are coming back for another visit.
“We’ve gotten better since that game and we will make it count,” North Rockland attackman Joe Alvarez said, referencing a 15-5 loss earlier this month. “I know they’re a good team, but I think we’re up there, as well.”
Section 1 tournament: Mahopac gets into semifinals with a win at Somers
Game story: Stepinac captures a CHSAA title with a long-awaited win at Iona Prep
Statistics: Who are the leading game-changers heading into the playoffs?
The Red Raiders are one win removed from their first Class A championship game appearance since 2013.
“We came out hot and played very well, played like a team,” North Rockland attackman Kevin Morina said of the quarterfinal victory. “We’re hungry. We want Scarsdale again. We came into that game thinking it was going to be competitive and they started chipping away. I don’t think it will be the same outcome as last time. I think we’re going to come out a play a stronger game.”
The Foxes were stuck in bridge traffic so the game was delayed some 30 minutes.
“None of that stuff helps but that’s not the reason,” Fox Lane coach Craig Henley said. “We’ve been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde and this wasn’t one of our better games. There are no excuses. North Rockland is a very good team. They didn’t give us an inch and we just didn’t have it, clearly.”
It was a 6-0 game at the half.
The Red Raiders were quicker to the ball and wore down the defense. When the Foxes did get a good look, North Rockland goalie Kevin Devine shut down the possession with clean saves.
What it means
North Rockland is the No. 2 seed and will be hosting Scarsdale on Tuesday. With a project to install artificial turf expected to get under way in the days ahead, it could be the last varsity event played on the grass at Joe Casarella Field.
“You gotta love the grass,” Alvarez said. “We’re used to it so it’s an advantage for us when other teams with turf come here.”
Player of the game
The Red Raiders have multiple scoring threats, but Morina is the facilitator. He delivered five assists in the win.
By the numbers
Fox Lane (8-10): Henry Gilligan made 11 saves.
North Rockland (15-2): Alvarez finished with five goals and one assist. … James Devine had four goals and one assist. … Jayden Rios had one goal and one assist. … Kevin Devine made eight saves. … Ethan Farrar also had one assist.
Quotable
“The way we finished the regular season gave us a lot of confidence going into the playoffs,” Alvarez said. “We know if we play together and stick together, we got it.”
Mike Dougherty covers boys soccer, boys lacrosse, girls basketball and golf for The Journal News/lohud.com. He can be reached at mdougher@lohud.com, or on Twitter @hoopsmbd, @lohudlacrosse, @lohudhoopsmbd and @lohudgolf.