"I looked at the clock and realized we did it," Flandina said. "It felt like I had [the ball] forever."

West Islip (21-0) won its first Class A Southeast Regional boys lacrosse final late Tuesday at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. West Islip remained Suffolk's only undefeated team and advanced to face Section II champ Shenendehowa (16-4) in a state semifinal at 8 tonight at West Point. Farmingdale (13-7) missed two final-minute shots, a Long Island title repeat and a chance to win its first state crown.

"We didn't fold up," said 17-year coach Scott Craig, who won his first Suffolk title in five final appearances. "We're getting a new confidence level."

Farmingdale had captured its third straight Nassau title and 11th overall following two straight comeback victories. It narrowly missed a third.

West Islip sophomore and first-year starting goalie Sal Barcia (six saves) stopped Mike Ryan's 12-yard rip with 28 seconds left, giving West Islip the all-important final possession. Dan Hushion scooted a 10-yarder wide right 13 seconds earlier.

"I was just going with the reaction. I just went with instinct," Barcia said. "I was going to save it if it was on the cage. I'm good like that."

West Islip enjoyed a 10-goal average margin in the regular season but has won its last three games by spreads of three, two and one.

"That was the knock on us - people thought that if we got into a close game, we would fold," said Troy Turri, who had two goals and was one of seven different West Islip scorers. "The last three games have been a test of our character."

Frank Bacchi tallied his sixth goal this season on an 8-yard fadeaway with 9:24 left after receiving Kevin Federico's feed to make it 8-6. Flandina broke a 15:44 scoring drought and a tie at 6 with 10:21 left. West Islip averted Nassau's first sweep of the Long Island finals since the introduction of three classes in 2000. Suffolk swept in 2002.

"I knew I had to come through," Bacchi said. "I had a nice look. Kevin put it on my stick and I put it away."

Ryan Bagnasco, who scored three goals, provided the final margin when he ripped a 12-yarder goal with 4:45 left after Hushion cleared. Eric Brunner (11 saves) denied Bacchi from close range 1:08 later.

Farmingdale tied it for the last time at 6 with 5:13 left in the third quarter when Mike Engelke finished on a leaping goal from the right side for Bagnasco's third assist.

Matt Sullivan gave West Islip a 6-4 halftime lead on a high shot with 2:05 left in the second quarter. Dan Galasso followed Alex Smith's one-timer that broke a tie at 4 with 2:18 left in the first half with a faceoff win that set up Sullivan's goal.

Farmingdale's Greg Cerar capped a three-goal streak that tied it at 4 with 4:22 left in the second quarter and countered West Islip's 4-1 first quarter.

"It was a nice ride," said 35-year Farmingdale coach Bob Hartranft.

WEST ISLIP 8

FARMINGDALE 7
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